Expert food safety and health & safety audits

We offer comprehensive food safety audits that help you stay ahead of your next hygiene inspection. Our audits cover two core areas:

  • Food hygiene – A thorough inspection of your food hygiene and safety practices to make sure you’re compliant with UK food safety regulations.
  • Health & Safety – A professional review of your business’s safety setup, including identifying potential risks and how you manage them.

Audits delivered by former EHOs

Our consultants are former Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) who know exactly how enforcement works, and audit to gold standard criteria that goes further than legislation.

The result? Clients who spot problems before an EHO does, reducing the risk of closures, poor hygiene ratings, and reputational damage, while walking into every inspection with confidence.

How our Food Safety and Health & Safety audits work

Your audit is scheduled

For new clients, your first audit is announced so your team can prepare. For ongoing clients, dates are agreed with a senior contact but generally kept unannounced at site level, mirroring how EHO visits work.

A consultant visits your site(s)

Your auditor arrives on-site and carries out a thorough inspection covering Food Safety, Health & Safety, hygiene controls, fire safety elements and allergen requirements — everything an EHO would check, and more, in a single visit.

Your findings are presented

Your auditor walks through results with your team on the day, including your estimated Food Hygiene Rating. All actions are logged in Alert65, and your auditor is there to support your every step of the way.

Why choose Food Alert for your audits?

Every auditor is a qualified Environmental Health Practitioner

Many are ex-EHOs themselves, so they know exactly what inspectors look for.

All reports and actions land straight in your Alert65 dashboard

Every action, every finding, centralised and ready to go within 48 hours.

Every report includes your predicted Food Hygiene Rating

Know exactly where you’d stand with an EHO before they ever walk through your door.

Get expert support beyond the audit

We’re with you every step of the way, providing ongoing expert advice and support to help you maintain high standards.

Food Safety audits you can rely on

88%

of clients rate our audits as excellent.

94%

of clients are satisfied with our auditors’ professionalism and presentation.

88%

of clients are satisfied with report turnaround time.

Stay inspection-ready with Alert65

Alert65 is our all-in-one food safety management software that covers all your food hygiene and Health & Safety in one place. Get HACCP and risk assessment templates, complete daily checks, and streamline your allergen management with our handy food software.

It’s built by experts to keep your business compliant, your teams running smoothly, and your customers safe.

Built for every type of food business

Jorge is an excellent auditor who takes away the ‘fear factor’ and intensity of the situation. He was professional but kind and spent a moment to introduce himself to the wider team…”

Hannie Firth
Trustpilot review, May 2026

Helping Lunya achieve full marks

With three distinct parts to their business including the restaurant, deli and online store, Lunya needed one system that could keep it all on track. They found Food Alert covered far more than that.

Locations

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Checklists complete

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Services most used

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Results

“Since using Food Alert, everything’s recorded and accessible to the whole team. There’s no paperwork to lose. Having food hygiene, Health & Safety and employment all together in one place has made a huge difference, and 12 years on, we’re still using it.”

Food Safety and Health & Safety audit FAQs

Save valuable time and money

What is a food safety audit and what does it involve?

A food safety audit is a thorough, on-site inspection of your food handling, storage, preparation, and hygiene practices, assessed against current UK legislation and industry best practice. A Food Alert auditor will visit your premises, review your documentation, speak with your team, and produce a detailed written report with prioritised actions. It’s designed to give you a clear picture of where you stand and exactly what needs to change.

How is a Food Alert audit different from an EHO inspection?

Our audits are designed to be more rigorous than a standard Environmental Health Officer (EHO) visit. We assess against gold-standard criteria, so any issues are identified and addressed before enforcement does. Think of it as a practice run with expert guidance, rather than a pass-or-fail inspection, giving you confidence and significantly reducing the risk of a poor hygiene rating.

How often should my business have a food safety audit?

Most businesses benefit from at least one audit per year, though higher-risk environments such as care homes, hospitals, or high-volume kitchens, may benefit from more frequent visits. The right frequency depends on your operation, your current compliance status, and any recent changes to your team or processes. Two audits per year are included in our Compliance Membership.

What happens after the audit — how do I act on the findings?

You’ll receive a detailed report within 48 hours, outlining every finding with clear, prioritised recommendations. Our auditors don’t just hand over a document and leave, we’re available to help you work through every action point. Clients on our Compliance Membership also get ongoing support to maintain standards between audits.

What legislation do Food Alert audits cover?

Our audits cover all relevant UK food safety legislation, including the Food Safety Act 1990, Food Hygiene Regulations 2006, and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) requirements. For businesses in regulated settings such as care homes, we also benchmark against CQC standards where applicable.

Do you offer Health & Safety audits alongside Food Safety?

Yes. Food Alert provides combined Food Safety and Health & Safety audits, covering both areas in a single visit. This means less disruption to your operation and a joined-up view of your compliance position — from food hygiene and allergen management through to fire safety, manual handling, and risk assessments.