Starting a new food business

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) provides useful information about setting up your food business and meeting the regulations.

In general:

• You must make sure your food premises, equipment and surfaces are kept clean, in good condition and able to be disinfected where necessary.
• You must have adequate hand washing facilities, with a designated wash hand basin, soap, hot and cold water and hygienic means of hand drying.
• There must be adequate lighting and ventilation.
• You must have sufficient and adequate food storage space including fridges, freezers and dry stores.
• The kitchen must have enough preparation space for the food you intend to prepare. Your arrangements and set up should prevent the risk of foods being subject to cross contamination.
• Provide appropriate cleaning and disinfectant chemicals are available and are used correctly.  To ensure bacteria are thoroughly removed sanitisers and disinfectants must comply too BS EN 1276:1997 or BS EN 13967:2001.

The FSA gives advice on general law and the following legislation gives the general legal requirements that food businesses must follow.

Allergens

You are required to provide information to customers who need to avoid certain ingredients because of a food allergy or intolerance. The FSA has produced advice and guidance which includes allergen information rules, general advice and information on food allergy and intolerance, and specific voluntary best practice guidance on cross-contamination controls for pre-packed foods and loose foods.

Control of E.coli O157

You are required to have practices and procedures in place to prevent food becoming contaminated with all pathogenic microbiological organisms (bacteria and similar that may cause food poisoning) and in particular Escherichia coli O157 (E.coli O157).  

Advice and guidance as to the steps a food business may take have been produced by the Food Standards Agency.

Imported and exported foods

Guidance on rules and regulations for commercially importing and exporting food from or to countries outside of the UK is available from the FSA.

In addition to this there is specific guidance for traders on importing certain foodstuffs, import restrictions and further information on labelling, packaging, chemical safety, additives and organic products.

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS)

All businesses that serve members of the public will receive a food hygiene rating. 

Your rating will be determined from the standards and circumstances found at the business at the time of the food safety visit.