Legislation requires all food businesses to operate a food safety management system. This includes carrying out checks at important points during food production and keeping records of how food safety is being ensured. The documented system can be carried out in several ways. It is acceptable to have a system which is done corporately (for large organisations), documentation that is written in house or alternatively to use Safer Food Better Business. Depending on your business will depend on which system will be better suited.
'Safer food better business' (SFBB) is a package that was produced by the Food Standards Agency in order to help small independent caterers and retailers comply with recent European legislation. The packs provide guidance on the areas critical for ensuring food safety such as cooking, cleaning, cross-contamination and chilling and this part can be used to train staff in safe systems of work. The pack also provides documents that can help manage matters such as cleaning schedules, training records and opening and closing checks.
There are a number of SFBB packs available which are designed to meet different business needs. There are packs for packs available which are designed to meet the specific needs of different food businesses. There are packs for small catering businesses, small retail businesses and restaurants and takeaways that serve different cuisines, such as Chinese or Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan cuisines. There is also a supplement for care homes that is designed to be used with the pack for caterers.
The SFBB pack requires that diary sheets are used on a daily basis. Diary refills can be ordered free of charge from the Food Standards Agency.
To accompany the SFBB packs a DVD guide, available in 16 different languages, has been produced to help food businesses implement SFBB and train staff on SFBB. The guide can be viewed online at the Food Standards Agency website or you can download a copy to your computer. Follow link to the right of the page.
If you would like to order a FREE SFBB pack, FREE diary refills or the FREE DVD guide call Food Standards Agency Publications on 0845 606 0667 or email foodstandards@ecgroup.co.uk