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Food Hygene Inspections Common Question

Does the food business know you are coming?

No, programmed inspections must (by Government Code of Practice) always be unannounced. Appointments are only made for follow-up or advisory visits.

What if it's not a convenient time for the business to let your inspector in?

While we try to avoid unnecessary intrusion on the work of food businesses, by law we have powers to inspect premises at all reasonable times e.g. when they are trading.

How often do you inspect food businesses?

The frequency is dictated by a Government Code of Practice. Programmed inspection frequencies vary from twice a year for higher risk premises such as manufacturers to once every 5 years for very low risk premises such as greengrocers. Most premises are inspected every 12-18 months.

How do you decide the inspection frequency of each premise?

Each premises is risk rated separately. Factors such as the type of food produced and the standard of hygiene are used to calculate the next inspection date

What are you looking for during an inspection?

Our main purpose is to identify parts of the process where there could be a risk to food safety and to ensure that the proprietor can demonstrate a safe system of work (e.g. Hazard Analysis) to control that risk.

What is meant by:-

Hazard Analysis
HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) and safe systems of work in a food business?


Hazard Analysis is a legally required procedure for ensuring a safe system of work in food businesses. There are many systems designed to ensure compliance with the Hazard Analysis requirement. These may be summarised in 3 basic question which the proprietor must ask himself at all stages of the process:-

  • what can go wrong?e.g. survival of germs in undercooked chicken
  • what can I do about it?e.g. ensure thorough defrosting and cooking
  • how can I check?e.g. use thermometer to check thickest part is above 75oC

A full HACCP system (which is not a legal requirement at present for most businesses) goes a stage further than this and requires additional checks and records.

If you wish further advice or if you wish to attend one of our Hazard Analysis Seminars (cost £10 – duration 1½ hours) please contact us on 08452 777 000 or Email Us