A food safety audit is an independent review of how a food business manages the critical processes that protect customers, staff, and brand reputation. It goes far beyond a surface check. A structured audit looks at everything from hygiene standards and allergen controls to storage, handling, cleaning, and training records. At Audit Point, our food safety audits are carried out by qualified professionals who understand the pressures of running multi-site operations. We create bespoke audit templates mapped to brand standards and relevant legislation, so every visit is tailored to your requirements. The audit provides a clear, impartial picture of performance on the day, supported by photographic evidence, RAG-rated scoring, and logged corrective actions. Importantly, we transform that data into insight you can use, highlighting trends across sites and helping you make practical improvements. For site teams, audits act as a coaching opportunity, showing them what “good” looks like and where they can tighten standards. For senior managers, audits provide confidence that risks are being controlled consistently, and that the business is prepared for local authority inspections. In short, a food safety audit is not just a snapshot, it is a tool for continuous improvement and assurance across your estate.

In the UK, independent food safety audits are not a legal requirement. Every food business is legally obliged to comply with food safety legislation, but the law does not mandate third-party audits. Local authority Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) carry out inspections and assign Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) scores. While this statutory visit cannot be replaced, an independent food safety audit is one of the most effective ways to prepare. By working with Audit Point, clients can benchmark their performance in advance, identify non-conformances, and take corrective action before an EHO arrives. This proactive approach helps protect FHRS scores, reduces the risk of enforcement, and builds confidence that day-to-day practices match legislative requirements. For multi-site groups, independent audits are particularly valuable, as they provide estate-wide visibility that statutory inspections cannot. They ensure consistency, highlight systemic weaknesses, and create a defensible record of due diligence. Although not a legal requirement, many of the UK’s largest food and hospitality groups treat independent food safety audits as essential. They see them not as a cost, but as an investment in compliance, brand protection, and customer confidence. In practice, a well-run audit programme can make the difference between a compliant, high-scoring site and one facing regulatory scrutiny.

Preparation for a food safety audit starts with ensuring your teams understand the basics: good hygiene practices, correct food storage, allergen awareness, and accurate record-keeping. Unlike local authority visits, which are unannounced, your independent audits can be scheduled in advance. This gives you the chance to review your HACCP documentation, cleaning schedules, and training records, so everything is up to date. It is also useful to walk the site as if you were a customer or inspector, checking obvious details like handwashing facilities, food temperature controls, and cleanliness. At Audit Point, we encourage clients not to over-stage-manage the process. Audits are most valuable when they reflect normal working practices. Our role is not to “catch people out”, but to provide constructive insight that helps improve performance. When preparing, brief your teams so they know the purpose of the audit and are ready to engage openly with the inspector. Encourage them to see the visit as a coaching opportunity, not an exam. Once the audit is complete, the most important preparation is what comes next: being ready to act on the findings. Ensuring that corrective actions are logged, completed, and verified quickly is the key to getting the full benefit of an audit programme.

Read our article:  How to prepare for a food safety audit

In many cases we can begin within a few days. Our national coverage means we can audit all UK regions with minimal delay.

No. Audits are designed to observe without disrupting core service. If needed, we can time visits to quieter periods or peak times depending on your goals.

Yes. All issues are flagged and tracked via our digital platform, which you can access 24/7 with custom views for different stakeholders.

Yes. All inspections are carried out by qualified food safety professionals, with advanced knowledge in food, fire, and health & safety.

Absolutely. Our reports are used regularly in local authority follow-ups, enforcement responses and internal compliance reviews.

Yes. We customise every audit to match your brand protocols and any internal standards you require.

• Do you run franchses?  See our page for Franchise Food Safety
• See how food safety audits can add value to your operation
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