Food Safety Audits: The Smart Insurance Policy for Hospitality

Food safety is a critical pillar of any hospitality business, yet it's often treated as a burden, or just another tick-box exercise. With ever-evolving regulations and Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) demanding more detailed due diligence than ever during inspections, many businesses are asking the same question:

At what point does an external food safety audit become not just helpful, but essential?

The answer: from the start.

Bringing in a qualified food safety specialist to carry out an external audit is not just beneficial, it offers a strong return on investment.

Let’s face it: you can’t be expected to be an expert in every area of your business. You likely have someone who manages your accounts, and you probably call in a professional for maintenance or renovations. So why treat something as essential as food safety any differently?

Do you really need an external food safety audit?

Short answer: Yes. And here’s why.

Ensures compliance with UK food safety regulations

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) outlines strict protocols for food safety in the UK. An experienced food safety specialist can identify any non-conformities and provide practical advice on corrective actions, setting you up for success before your next EHO visit.

This helps you avoid:

• Low food hygiene ratings

• Temporary or permanent business closure

• Legal liability from foodborne illness outbreaks

Protecting your customers

In hospitality, your customer base is broad, and often includes vulnerable individuals such as children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with allergies. An external audit helps protect them by:

• Uncovering risks of cross-contamination

• Identifying improper storage or preparation methods

• Ensuring allergen management procedures are robust and compliant

Even a single food safety incident can cause irreversible damage to your brand, and cost far more in lost reputation, legal fees, and customer trust than the price of an audit.

Safeguard your reputation

In an age where online reviews and social media shape public opinion, customer expectations around food safety have never been higher. One bad review related to hygiene can discourage dozens of potential guests from even stepping through your door.

An external food safety audit helps you exceed expectations and build a reputation for professionalism and care.

Expert, objective assessment

While internal audits are useful, they often lack objectivity. An external audit offers:

• Fresh eyes from trained professionals

• Unbiased insights on areas needing improvement

• Up-to-date guidance based on UK legislation and best practices

• A through review of documentation, organised in a EHO- friendly format

This independent perspective helps you spot gaps you didn’t know existed and strengthens your compliance across the board.

External food safety audits give you more than peace of mind, they give you a professional edge. In a competitive hospitality market, food safety can be the factor that sets you apart from the competition.

In hospitality, food safety isn’t just a checklist, it’s a promise. A promise to protect your guests, support your staff, and uphold the reputation you’ve worked hard to build.

An external food safety audit helps you keep that promise - every single day.

Hubl is led by food safety experts and offers a range of consultancy services, including comprehensive external food safety audits—designed to ensure full EHO readiness and confidence during inspections.