With the post-pandemic ramp-up of in-person, global sporting events comes a parallel increase in the number of food safety professionals required to oversee the catering of such events. Event organizers and caterers alike have come to understand the importance of food safety in such large-scale scenarios.

UKHospitality, in partnership with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS), has launched an updated version of its industry-recognized hygiene standards guide for caterers.

Food safety and hygiene training is a crucial component in the success of a food establishment. Food handlers are the first line of defense against food safety threats within a facility; consequently, they should be equipped with the right tools and knowledge required to combat food safety and hygiene issues within their control.

This article explores the food safety challenges of the labor-heavy catering sector, including the pervasive lack of food safety culture and management commitment; the need for creative solutions in process monitoring for large facilities; how to build an effective training program for a catering facility; and how to handle customer complaints, including the importance of root cause analysis.