CookSafe

Food safety legislation requires that all food businesses, including caterers, apply food safety management procedures based on the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) to their business.

In 2004 Food Standards Agency Scotland drawing on expertise from the food industry including small businesses, local authorities and the Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee developed a food safety management system named 'CookSafe' for caterers and subsequently a system named 'RetailSafe' for retailers.

These systems are designed to help catering and retail businesses understand and implement a HACCP based system to comply with the law. By reading the specific manual and following the instructions, businesses are able to develop HACCP-based procedures that fit their needs.

The CookSafe system which comprises 6 sections can be downloaded from the Food Standards Scotland website. All sections are necessary for the successful implementation of CookSafe.

CookSafe is also available in other languages - Bengali, Chinese, Punjabi and Urdu. These can be downloaded from the Food Standards Scotland website at www.foodstandards.gov.scot/publications-and-research/publications/cooksafe-manual

Business Support

One-to-one support is available to new businesses looking to implement CookSafe. Should you be interested in this service, please complete the application form and return by email to environmental.health@south-ayrshire.gov.uk or by post to Environmental Health, South Ayrshire Council, Burns House, 16 Burns Statue Square, Ayr, KA7 1UT.

If you have any questions or require further information then please call Environmental Health on 0300 123 0900 for further information.