What is the purpose of a food safety audit?

The purpose of a food safety audit is to evaluate an organization’s food safety practices and ensure compliance with applicable regulations and standards. Such audits are crucial for identifying potential gaps in food safety management, ensuring that food is handled, prepared, and stored according to required guidelines that protect public health. This comprehensive assessment helps organizations maintain high safety standards, minimize risks of foodborne illnesses, and demonstrate their commitment to food safety to customers and regulatory authorities.

While increasing product sales, assessing employee performance, or developing new recipes may be important aspects of a business's operations, they do not directly relate to the primary focus and objective of a food safety audit. An audit is specifically designed to scrutinize food safety systems rather than broad operational or financial goals.