Report Offers Food for Thought

20 May 2016 | Updated 01 January 1970

The importance of good hygiene in restaurants and takeaways has been highlighted in a new report ‘The Financial Impact of Poor Food Safety’. The report states that UK consumers are united in not tolerating poor food hygiene ratings and simply won’t visit places that have had food safety issues.

Jan-Hein Hemke, MD of contract cleaning firm, Facilicom UK, said: “It shouldn’t be a surprise that hygiene is such a priority for consumers. Poor hygiene increases the likelihood of food poisoning and pests, hardly the recipe for a successful food business.

“If the potential threat to public health isn’t enough, perhaps the financial implications of the fact that ‘75% of diners refuse to visit restaurants that have experienced food hygiene issues’ will hit home for those establishments that aren’t taking cleaning seriously already.”

Wider implications

The report’s findings also have implications for the wider food-production sector. They reinforce the message that any hygiene or contamination issues can have a serious financial and reputational impact and that thorough and effective cleaning is required in any food preparation situations.

If an establishment doesn’t pass environmental health inspection, it may be forced to close or be penalised if it does not comply with legislation. There are also legal fees to consider should someone sue them directly.

“Facilicom works with a number of businesses in the food industry and we specialise in kitchen deep cleaning. These deep cleans are carried out in accordance with legislative guidelines and remove the grease and grime from those difficult areas not covered by our daily service. With people’s health, as well as a business’ sustainability, at stake proper cleaning needs to be the priority,” said Hemke.

Read the ‘The Financial Impact of Poor Food Safety’ report by Checkit at http://bit.ly/1SOtI61

Picture: Jan-Hein Hemke

Article written by Cathryn Ellis | Published 20 May 2016