Food manufacturers are frequently failing food hygiene inspections because they do not know where to turn to for practical solutions, warned safety and hygiene specialist Seton this week.
The UK-based company carried out research with a sample from its 70,000 customers. According to the results 71 per cent of respondents in the food manufacturing market said that they did not know where to source all the products and services that they needed to ensure food safety compliance. Simple things, as mundane as safety signage, can be headache purchases for buyers, the survey revealed.
Recent figures from the Food Standards Agency reveal that in 2000, 64 per cent of all food premises were inspected and 45 per cent committed some infringement of food safety law. Seton emphasised that with the FSA's recent consumer attitudes survey showing that three-quarters of the UK population are fairly or very concerned about food safety, the pressure is on the manufacturing community to meet standards.
The Seton survey revealed that a lack of information and services is hindering businesses in their hygiene objectives. In response to this finding, Seton is launching a one-stop-shop for legal compliance, and a comprehensive range of food safety and hygiene products.
Richard Boyes-Jackson, health and safety manager at S&A Foods, commented: "Traditionally, the food manufacturing market has been neglected by suppliers offering a specific, food-based service, leaving us wasting time sourcing the products that we need from many different places - if we can get them at all. I've frequently found that the signs and equipment I need just aren't readily available - and S&A Foods are not unusual in this. "
The launch of Seton's Food Safety range follows hot on the heels of the FSA's £20m food hygiene campaign that aims to bring the issue of food safety to the fore in many food factories.
Seton managing director, Simon Keeping said: "Whilst nearly all of our respondents were well aware of the need for compliance - and the risk that failure can bring to the public and their businesses - surprisingly few knew where to turn for an easy, practical way to identify and source what they needed to buy to put the essential elements in place."