In the United States, food safety breaches cost nearly $7 billion dollars per year. Businesses can tackle these issues by investing in food safety training and consultants.
When the legitimacy and health of your company stand in the way, choosing food safety consultants is of the utmost importance. Keep reading to learn five factors to consider when you are hiring your next food safety consultant.
1. Understand the Role of a Safety Consultant
In order to keep up with the emerging trends of the foodservice industry, you need to hire a top-notch safety consultant. As a food manufacturer or processer, you need to know the roles that a safety consultant assumes.
The consultant is responsible for analyzing and managing the following:
- initial needs assessment
- work plan
- record system
- HACCP system
- Post-certification follow-ups
A safety consultant can improve your restaurant's business. They can do this by implementing these services and managing overall staff comprehension. Consultants work to improve overall food safety practices and employee awareness.
2. Set Your Budget
Developing food safety training around Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Sanitation Operating Procedures (SSOP) for your business can cost anywhere between $6,000 and $87,000 dollars. When you are looking for a food safety consultant you need to begin comparing consultant costs.
Your business' financial team needs to finance the food safety experience by paying for training for employees. Consultation services can greatly vary so you want to find a balance between quality and cost.
3. Create a Project Outline
The best way to narrow your pool of applicants is to create a project outline. Your project outline should include deliverables, criteria, available resources, and payment plans. If you are precise when hiring a contractor, you can lower costs and boost efficiency.
4. Look for Continuous Professional Development
When you hire a trainer it is important to select someone that has relevant qualifications and experiences. You should insist that your safety consultant has the necessary training and qualifications.
As a food distributor, you will want to review applicants' qualifications. Keep an eye out to see they are pursuing continual professional development.
Food safety legislation is constantly evolving. Because laws and regulations are not static, it is important that your food safety consultants are up on date current news and laws.
If your food safety consultant has not continued their professional development, they may not be up to date. Your business may miss out on recent updates that affect your food's safety.
5. Conduct a Pre-Assessment
You can ensure that you have a successful food safety experience you can field different applicants by conducting a pre-assessment. During this interview, you can ensure that the applicant's qualifications and values are in line with your company's needs.
Similar to a traditional interview, you should ask about your consultant's experience and communication style. Your consultant will be integrated into your workforce, so having a formal interview can help ensure that you weigh your options for consultants.
Be Strategic in Choosing Food Safety Consultants
Choosing food safety consultants is the best way to ensure that your businesses are up to industry standards. Improve your existing food safety model. You can put in place a great standardized operating procedure.
Connect with us to onboard an expected food safety consultant.