BHA launches Guide to Good Hygiene Practice for catering industry
The British Hospitality Association (BHA) will be launching the Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice: Catering 2016 on 11 July.
The guide is recognised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and will be marked by an official launch with speakers including Catherine Brown, CEO at the Food Standards Agency, and leading food safety experts and representatives from the hospitality industry.
FSA chief executive Catherine Brown said: "It's vital that food businesses have systems in place to keep their customers safe, and the guide will provide caterers with practical advice on how to comply with their responsibilities under food hygiene legislation."
Darryl Thomson, head of safety at pub chain Mitchells & Butlers said: "The catering guide will provide food businesses with much needed clarity and a useful benchmark of legal compliance. Businesses will be able to compare their own food safety policies and practices, as well as target changes to achieve the most efficient and effective means of compliance."
Stuart Kelly, managing director of BHA's compliance partner Acoura, said: "Food safety is very much in the public eye right now and it's imperative that hospitality providers ensure they follow best practice at all times in an effort to protect their customers, staff and brand from harm."
The guide includes:
• Information to be taken into account by local authority enforcement officers when carrying out inspections of your business
• The requirements of "how to comply with the law"
• Guidance to achieve the top score in the respective national Hygiene Ratings Scheme
• Requirements for premises and equipment
• Food hygiene and safety procedures
• Food safety management procedures and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) systems
• Advice on training requirements for different levels of staff
• Best practice arrangements that businesses may choose to implement beyond the scope of the law
• Advice on how to comply with the allergen requirements of the Food Information for Consumers Regulation 2014
The updated guide will be available from 11 July, the first update to the guidelines for 20 years, put together by a team of food safety and risk experts from the BHA working with the FSA and FSS. It will be available in hard copy, as a downloadable PDF and via the BHA interactive app.
Restaurant owner found guilty of manslaughter following peanut allergy death >>
Food hygiene number one priority for consumers when eating out >>
Former owner of Norwich restaurant House of Tiago fined £19,500 for food hygiene breaches >>
Zenith Hygiene Group acquires ABC Hygiene Limited >>
Latest video from The Caterer
