Through out the UK and many other countries there are certain standards that the restaurants have to meet in order to trade as a food serving establishment. These standards are maintained by visits from health inspectors that are trained to look for standards that aren't being met.
Food Safety Regulations
Here are some examples of the way a restaurant can keep up to standard in the UK:
- Storage of Food - There are certain standards that the restaurant will have to observe in the way of storing their ingredients and any prepared foods. Any foods that need to be refrigerated should be kept at the right temperature and all foods should be kept covered, this stops any foreign bodies getting in.
- Cleaning - This is probably one of the most important regulations for the restaurant to pay attention to. This is because it’s due to poor hygiene that a lot of bacteria can spread, and in some cases cause serious food poisoning. This not only includes the work surfaces where the food is prepared and cooked but also the staff must ensure their hygiene standards are met. Work surfaces and floors should be cleaned on a daily basis and hand basins should be easily accessed with the correct hand sanitizers.
- Staff Training - There must be a certain number of staff in the kitchen trained in the health and safety regulations. There are also dress codes that should be met including things like hair nets to be worn by staff working in the kitchen.
Health Inspector Visits
When the health inspector comes to visit it is a chance for you to see if there are any improvements you can make to the service you are providing. They will have a check list style form to fill out that will cover everything from the standard of cleanliness in the kitchen to the areas staff use the toilet and such. It helps if you have a copy of the health codes you are suppose to follow and you can carry out self assessments. This not only helps you check there are no major issues regarding health and safety in your establishment, but reiterates to staff the importance of health and safety in your restaurant.