Food has the ability to invoke feelings of happiness and fulfilment in us. It forges a connection between those who prepare it and those who consume it. It is no more just a means of fulfilling hunger; rather, it is an experience that satiates all our senses.
The role food plays as a sensory and social lubricant has propelled growth within the restaurant industry. There is a mushrooming of restaurants, bakeries, mom-n-pop diners, and even home-based food businesses. This rapid growth is why it’s pertinent that the quality of food is not compromised. Not only is quality critical for the business, but it’s also a customer demand restaurants can’t ignore.
Today’s consumers are increasingly conscious about their health and wish to know how their food is being prepared and what food safety certification a restaurant has. This makes it important for those in this business to understand what food safety is and how to ensure it.
What is Food Safety?
Simply put, food safety means that your restaurant’s food is safe to consume and does not make a person sick or cause food poisoning.
Gov.UK describes food safety as those practices of business that check off the following:
Gov.UK also takes into account other factors regarding food safety such as food additives and food hygiene.
Why Food Safety should be a Key Performance Indicator (KPI)
The UK’s Food Standards Agency claims that putting up a food hygiene rating is “good advertisement for business.... good food hygiene rating is good for business”.
This is self-explanatory since customer’s confidence significantly increases when they see a good hygiene rating. A study conducted in Los Angeles by Stanford economist, Professor Phillip Leslie, confirmed that is, indeed, true. There was a close relationship between food hygiene rating and the revenue of certain restaurants.
Those restaurants with a low rating had a decrease in their revenue and vice versa.
The study indicates that adhering to food safety guidelines and having a specific rating will affect business growth. This important detail is something that your restaurant business should not overlook.
Why Your Restaurant should Ensure Food Safety Standards
The idea that bad publicity is still publicity does not work anymore. There are consequences, both financial and social, when it comes to not adhering to food safety standards.
There are many incidents where restaurants were shut down due to an outbreak of food poisoning or infestation. While these restaurants got back on their feet, customers don’t forget it easily.
The obvious reason why you should ensure food safety guidelines:
Food Safety Checklist
The restaurant industry is a busy one. There is growing pressure on employees to meet consumer demands. It may become a hassle to maintain a checklist, but the good thing is it is not complex. It only needs the owner’s involvement, employee motivation, and a set protocol.
It’s understandable that each restaurant business will have its own systems and checklists. But here are common things that should be on your checklist:
Final Thoughts
Running a restaurant requires thorough planning. It demands all hands on deck, from deciding a menu and selecting the interior to hiring staff and maintaining social media. However, if your restaurant business lacks a key ingredient: food safety, you can expect a dip in business.
Ensuring and building a proper food safety guideline should not be a hassle or significantly expensive. It’s simple, everyday things that can be implemented and upgraded as demanded.