The effectiveness of food safety self-checking systems in institutional catering

Internal and external food safety audits and inspections are commonly implemented in food service establishments to uphold and enhance food safety standards. While the processes for various types of inspections are similar, each has distinct roles and implications. Self-checking involves inspections...

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Main Authors: András József Tóth, Márton Kajtor, Csaba Bálint Illés, Anna Dunay, Szergej Vinogradov, Márton Battay, Miklós Süth, András Bittsánszky
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Applied Food Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772502224000982
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author András József Tóth
Márton Kajtor
Csaba Bálint Illés
Anna Dunay
Szergej Vinogradov
Márton Battay
Miklós Süth
András Bittsánszky
author_facet András József Tóth
Márton Kajtor
Csaba Bálint Illés
Anna Dunay
Szergej Vinogradov
Márton Battay
Miklós Süth
András Bittsánszky
author_sort András József Tóth
collection DOAJ
description Internal and external food safety audits and inspections are commonly implemented in food service establishments to uphold and enhance food safety standards. While the processes for various types of inspections are similar, each has distinct roles and implications. Self-checking involves inspections conducted by local staff within the food business. However, experts question the efficacy of this process, as it often fails to uncover food safety issues.This indicative study aimed to investigate whether self-checking can reveal food safety risks associated with primary and additional activities and identify which activities, if any, are misjudged by internal staff. An in-depth survey was conducted over four months in 10 school kitchens using a food safety control checklist, which was completed monthly by internal staff, an internal auditor, and an external auditor.The evaluations from external auditors consistently rated the kitchens lower than those from internal auditors and local catering managers. The most divergent judgments centered on personal hygiene practices, storage procedures, cleaning methods, and disinfection processes.Based on this data, food handlers tend to perceive their adherence to food safety practices as more robust than it is.
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series Applied Food Research
spelling doaj-art-4f8d90f4ecda4f8884f152a800b961972025-08-20T01:57:55ZengElsevierApplied Food Research2772-50222024-12-014210048810.1016/j.afres.2024.100488The effectiveness of food safety self-checking systems in institutional cateringAndrás József Tóth0Márton Kajtor1Csaba Bálint Illés2Anna Dunay3Szergej Vinogradov4Márton Battay5Miklós Süth6András Bittsánszky7InDeRe Institute for Food System Research and Innovation Nonprofit Ltd, Budaörsi út 15, Budapest 1115, Hungary; Institute of Food Chain Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, István u. 2, Budapest 1078, HungaryInDeRe Institute for Food System Research and Innovation Nonprofit Ltd, Budaörsi út 15, Budapest 1115, HungaryDoctoral School of Management and Business Administration, John von Neumann University, Infopark sétány 1, Budapest 1117 HungaryDoctoral School of Management and Business Administration, John von Neumann University, Infopark sétány 1, Budapest 1117 HungaryInstitute of Digital Studies, Budapest Metropolitan University, Nagy Lajos király útja 1-9, Budapest 1148, HungaryDepartment of Exotic Animal and Wildlife Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, István u. 2, Budapest 1078, HungaryInstitute of Food Chain Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, István u. 2, Budapest 1078, Hungary; Corresponding author.InDeRe Institute for Food System Research and Innovation Nonprofit Ltd, Budaörsi út 15, Budapest 1115, Hungary; Institute of Food Chain Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, István u. 2, Budapest 1078, HungaryInternal and external food safety audits and inspections are commonly implemented in food service establishments to uphold and enhance food safety standards. While the processes for various types of inspections are similar, each has distinct roles and implications. Self-checking involves inspections conducted by local staff within the food business. However, experts question the efficacy of this process, as it often fails to uncover food safety issues.This indicative study aimed to investigate whether self-checking can reveal food safety risks associated with primary and additional activities and identify which activities, if any, are misjudged by internal staff. An in-depth survey was conducted over four months in 10 school kitchens using a food safety control checklist, which was completed monthly by internal staff, an internal auditor, and an external auditor.The evaluations from external auditors consistently rated the kitchens lower than those from internal auditors and local catering managers. The most divergent judgments centered on personal hygiene practices, storage procedures, cleaning methods, and disinfection processes.Based on this data, food handlers tend to perceive their adherence to food safety practices as more robust than it is.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772502224000982Self-checkingFood safetyInternal auditExternal auditInstitutional cateringSelf-inspection
spellingShingle András József Tóth
Márton Kajtor
Csaba Bálint Illés
Anna Dunay
Szergej Vinogradov
Márton Battay
Miklós Süth
András Bittsánszky
The effectiveness of food safety self-checking systems in institutional catering
Applied Food Research
Self-checking
Food safety
Internal audit
External audit
Institutional catering
Self-inspection
title The effectiveness of food safety self-checking systems in institutional catering
title_full The effectiveness of food safety self-checking systems in institutional catering
title_fullStr The effectiveness of food safety self-checking systems in institutional catering
title_full_unstemmed The effectiveness of food safety self-checking systems in institutional catering
title_short The effectiveness of food safety self-checking systems in institutional catering
title_sort effectiveness of food safety self checking systems in institutional catering
topic Self-checking
Food safety
Internal audit
External audit
Institutional catering
Self-inspection
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772502224000982
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