What Must You Do to Comply with UK Food Safety and Hygiene Legislation?

what must you do to comply with uk food safety and hygiene legislation
Published on
16 Feb
2025

Heading

Heading

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Running a hospitality business comes with its fair share of responsibilities—especially when it comes to food safety and hygiene. UK legislation sets out strict guidelines to make sure the food that’s served to customers is safe and of high quality. Navigating these regulations can seem intimidating to even the most seasoned professional, but with the right tools and knowledge, staying compliant is easier than you think.

When it comes to answering the all-important question, “What must you do to comply with UK food safety and hygiene legislation?” the experts at Telsen are here to help. We’ve detailed just what you need to do to stay compliant, plus we show you how digital food safety management software can help streamline your compliance processes.

Understanding UK Food Safety and Hygiene Legislation

UK food safety legislation is built around protecting public health. It ensures that food businesses follow practices that prevent contamination, misrepresentation, and unsafe handling. Here’s a quick overview of the key requirements:

Ensuring Food Is Safe to Eat

Food must not be harmful or contaminated, and you should not add, remove, or treat food in a way that compromises safety.

Accurate Food Labelling and Marketing

Food labels must be honest and clear—misleading advertising or incorrect information can lead to fines or worse.

Traceability

You need to keep records of where your food comes from (known as traceability) and be able to provide this information on request.

Food Withdrawal and Incident Reporting

If food is found to be unsafe, it needs to be withdrawn from the market immediately, and the public needs to be informed with a notice or leaflet explaining the situation.

Displaying Food Hygiene Ratings

If you sell food directly to the public, you have to display your food hygiene rating, as has been assessed by the local authorities.

UK Food Safety and Hygiene legislation compliance

Hygiene Management: The Foundation of Compliance

Food hygiene is a critical aspect of food safety. That’s why your business must manage hygiene effectively to prevent issues such as cross-contamination and bacterial growth. 

Here’s how:

Develop a HACCP Plan

A Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan is so essential for identifying risks and putting steps in place to control them. A strong HACCP plan includes:

Managing Food Contact Materials

Any materials that have contact with food, such as packaging and equipment, must not transfer any harmful substances to food. To stay compliant with this requirement, businesses must:

Preventing Bacterial Contamination

Pathogens like E.coli, salmonella, and campylobacter pose significant risks. Following HACCP protocols, such as proper cooking and storage, is vital to prevent outbreaks.

Staff Training

Did you know that you’re responsible for providing food hygiene training to your staff? This training can be formal or informal, but you must make sure that employees understand how to handle food safely. 

Food safety management software like Telsen can help you create a training programme and handy checklists to make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to food safety.

Managing Food Allergies

Food businesses must be aware of allergen management and make sure they’re communicating clearly about all ingredients present in their food to prevent allergic reactions.

The Role of Inspections in Compliance

Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) conduct inspections to make sure that food businesses comply with UK laws. These visits are often unannounced, so being prepared at all times is crucial.

During an inspection, EHOs assess:

Inspectors may take food samples, photos, and review your records. If standards aren’t met, you could face notices or penalties, including temporary closures for severe violations.

What Happens if You Don’t Comply?

As we mentioned above, failing to comply with UK food safety and hygiene legislation can have serious consequences for you and your business, including:

So, what must you do to comply with UK food safety and hygiene legislation? The answer lies in understanding the regulations, implementing effective systems, and staying prepared for inspections. With Telsen’s food safety management software, compliance becomes a seamless part of your daily operations.

How to comply with UK Food Safety and Hygiene legislation

How Telsen’s Software Simplifies Compliance

Complying with UK food safety legislation can feel overwhelming, but Telsen’s digital food safety management software is here to help. From creating a comprehensive HACCP plan to maintaining a seamless paper trail, our platform ensures you meet every requirement effortlessly. 

1. Automated HACCP Plans

Telsen’s software allows you to create, manage, and update your HACCP plans digitally. With customisable templates, you can adapt your plan to suit your business’s unique needs and stay compliant as regulations evolve.

2. Digital Food Safety Checklists

Our app goes beyond outdated paper checklists, offering easy-to-use digital alternatives and automated solutions. From monitoring fridge temperatures to tracking cleaning schedules and conducting daily risk assessments, everything is securely recorded and stored.

3. Automated Food Safety Monitoring

Say goodbye to manual checks—Telsen allows you to automate key processes like temperature monitoring and compliance tracking. This ensures accuracy, saves time, and keeps your operations running smoothly without constant intervention.

4. Real-Time Record Keeping

When an EHO inspection happens, having accurate, up-to-date records is essential. Our software keeps all your food safety data in one place, making it easily accessible in just a few clicks. This includes:

5. Inspection-Ready Reporting

Our system generates detailed reports on-demand, helping you demonstrate compliance with ease. When an inspector asks for documentation, you can provide it instantly—no scrambling for misplaced files.

6. Proactive Alerts and Notifications

Stay ahead of potential issues with proactive alerts. If something doesn't seem right—like a temperature sensor going out of range—our app notifies you, helping you address problems before they escalate.

See Telsen in Action

Ready to take the hassle out of food safety compliance? With Telsen, you can simplify your daily operations, stay on top of regulations, and ensure your business is always prepared for inspections. From customisable checklists to real-time monitoring, our platform is designed to help you save time, reduce errors, and maintain the highest standards of food safety.

Don’t just take our word for it—experience it yourself. Book your free demo today and see how Telsen can transform the way you manage food safety, giving you more time to focus on running your business while staying effortlessly compliant.