Hot on the heels of the highly publicised fine by health inspectors to PubCo Mitchells & Butlers in January of this year, take-away giant KFC has admitted to breaching hygiene rules at one of its busiest UK branches and now await their fate.

 

Environmental health inspectors from City of Westminster Council said that in an inspection of the Leicester Square premises in London in August 2008, they found cockroaches, mice and flies.  KFC has admitted to failing to provide hygienic facilities for handwashing, failing to keep the restaurant clean and in good order and also to poor design and construction of the premises, which resulted in inadequate food hygiene practices.

 

Admittedly, KFC have reported taking immediate action, employing a new manager and renovating the premises - a similar story given by Mitchells & Butlers and numerous hospitality outlets throughout the UK when handed fines by Environmental Health.

 

We all know how hard this business is, how long we all work in it and the pitfalls involved ... so the question is "WHY?"

 

WHY make it harder by running a sloppy establishment?

WHY hand your hard-earned profits over to Environmental Health in fines?

WHY run the risk of your hard-earned customers not wanting to come near?

WHY face such drastic publicity*?

 

*In the hospitality industry, the old adage of "any publicity is good publicity" does NOT hold true!

 

By putting simple food hygiene management systems in place, you will keep your profits, keep your customers, keep your reputation and, more importantly, keep your business.

 

Take a look at All4Hospitality's Food Safety section, in which you'll find policies, checklists, forms and advice to keep your staff on the right track, keep your kitchen clean and hygienic ... and keep you on the right side of Environmental Health!