To wrap up National Food Safety Month 2024, we’re focusing on the foundation of restaurant safety success: food safety culture.
Establishing a strong food safety culture protects the health and safety of your consumers while also reinforcing the trustworthiness of your restaurant. Marissa Tekirian, Regional Marketing Manager HoReCa Segment PH, at Tork, an Essity Brand, this year's National Food Safety Month sponsor agrees, "Tork is a firm believer that creating a strong food safety culture is imperative to running a safe and successful operation—that's why we continue to partner with ServSafe for National Food Safety Month. Our missions align closely-to provide valuable tools and resources to help operators deliver an excellent guest experience.” But creating a company-wide culture of food safety takes work, requiring commitment and continuous effort from every level of the organization. Use these key insights to help build a strong culture that ensures food safety is embedded in every aspect of your restaurant’s processes, decision-making and values.
What is Food Safety Culture?
Food safety culture is the collective values, beliefs, attitudes and practices an organization has about the food they handle. This culture focuses on both the “how’s” and the “why’s” behind your restaurant’s processes. Food safety culture is not just about having training and procedures in place but about how deeply these practices are ingrained in the daily operations and mindset of every employee, from top management to frontline workers.
Why is Food Safety Culture Important?
Building a culture of food safety is one of the best ways to ensure the health and safety of your guests. Foodborne illness continues to be a leading health concern in the United States, affecting nearly 50 million people annually. A robust food safety culture ensures that every precaution is taken to minimize the risk of contamination.
The benefits of a food safety culture aren’t limited to your guests − a culture of food safety can positively impact your operation’s reputation, productivity and staff retention.
In today’s market, brand reputation is everything. A single food safety incident can tarnish a brand's image and lose consumer trust. By embedding a strong food safety culture, organizations can protect their reputation and ensure that their brand is synonymous with quality and reliability.
What’s more, when employees understand the reasoning behind standard safety practices, they are more motivated to help contribute to safe dining experiences.
A strong food safety culture also positively impacts staff retention. When employees unite under a central cause like ensuring food safety, they form deeper connections with their peers, management and the company. Plus, employees who receive value-adding training and development have 34% higher retention than those who don’t.
Establishing a Food Safety Culture
Creating a strong food safety culture requires a strategic approach and ongoing effort from all team members. Here are some key steps to consider:
COMMITMENT FROM LEADERSHIP
The journey towards a robust food safety culture starts with leadership. Top management must prioritize food safety and allocate the necessary resources for their staff to succeed. This includes investing in training, technology and personnel dedicated to food safety. Leaders must also “walk-the-walk” and model the behavior they expect from their employees.
EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND EDUCATION
Continuous education is essential for maintaining high food safety standards. Regular training sessions should be conducted to keep employees informed about the latest food safety practices and regulations. ServSafe offers a wide range of training courses that ensure everyone from upper management to kitchen staff is educated on the best food safety practices, current regulations, allergen information and more. In-person, hands-on training is also particularly effective in reinforcing the importance of food safety. Encouraging experienced employees to show new employees food safety policies in practice will help strengthen food safety culture.
CLEAR COMMUNICATION
Effective communication is crucial for embedding food safety into the organization's culture. This means having clear, accessible policies and procedures and ensuring that all employees understand them. Regular meetings and updates on food safety issues can help keep everyone informed and engaged.
CREATING ACCOUNTABILITY
Establishing clear roles, responsibilities and expectations for food safety tasks is essential. Each employee should know what is expected of them and how their role contributes to overall food safety. Performance reviews can help reinforce accountability and ensure that everyone is meeting the food safety standards of the organization.
ENCOURAGING REPORTING AND FEEDBACK
Employees should feel comfortable reporting any food safety concerns or incidents. A culture of openness and transparency that encourages feedback helps identify potential issues and areas for improvement while improving collaboration amongst your staff.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Creating a culture of food safety is an ongoing process that requires regular evaluation and improvement. Restaurants should conduct periodic audits and reviews to assess the effectiveness of their food safety practices. Incorporating feedback from employees and staying up to date on industry regulations helps operators make necessary adjustments and streamline food safety policies.
Download our eBook, "Get Smart About Foodborne Illnesses: Preventing Outbreaks by Cultivating a Culture of Food Safety," to discover more comprehensive strategies and tips for cultivating a robust food safety culture. Learn best practices for maintaining a positive work environment where staff feel encouraged to exceed expectations and start building your strong food safety culture today.
Thank you for joining us for National Food Safety Month 2024.
Don’t forget to download all our NFSM 2024 resources and articles here to ensure your restaurant is equipped with all the best food safety practices.
This is the last week to claim 20% off select ServSafe products, including our ServSafe Manager, ServSafe Food Handler, and ServSafe Allergens courses all month long! Ensure your restaurant is exemplifying the gold standard of food safety with industry-leading training developed by the most trusted resource for restaurant food safety training.
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