What is the purpose of a food safety management system?

The purpose of a food safety management system is to identify food safety hazards and establish controls to prevent them. A well-implemented food safety management system focuses on proactive measures, ensuring that potential hazards related to food safety are detected before they can cause harm. This includes assessing risks associated with food handling, storage, preparation, and service, as well as implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) to minimize the likelihood of foodborne illnesses.

By systematically managing food safety through such a framework, establishments can comply with regulations and guidelines, ultimately protecting consumers and enhancing public health. This approach often includes documentation of processes, training for staff, and ongoing monitoring and review, which are essential to maintaining a safe food environment. The other options listed do not address food safety and hygiene practices directly, as they focus on operational aspects of a business rather than the critical goal of safeguarding food quality and safety.