Many small to medium sized food businesses do not have adequate resources for regulatory compliance or to go through a third-party audit. In some instances, those businesses rely on food safety consultants to help them put together a food safety plan or write a food safety program in preparation for a third-party audit.
In selecting the right food safety consultant, a small business needs to consider several factors. Typically, the main criterion is the price. But the low price does not always go with high quality. Businesses must get the best-in-class consulting service for the optimal price. Other than pricing, the business should be looking at the experience in their food sector category, and more often the references from the prior clients. When it comes to certain third-party audit certification schemes, the business might also be verifying if the potential consultant has appropriate qualifications. This includes registration with Safe Quality Food Institute and other qualifications such as FSPCA’s lead instructors.
Businesses hiring a food safety consultant should expect that the consultant not only will develop the Programs or necessary paperwork but also will effectively explain the requirements. Some consultants just write the Procedures but have no capabilities of assisting their clients with implementation. Consultants should have teaching skills to ensure that the client understands the requirements and can maintain the standard going forward. Many food safety consultants are lead instructors for a variety of food safety courses. Those include accredited HACCP training, FSPCA’s PCQI, IAVA and others.
Lastly, the food safety consultants must be honest. It happens often that consultants promise the client the delivery of unrealistic programs that cannot be implemented at the facility for distinct reasons. Equipment limitation, facility design or inadequate resources may cause serious difficulties in meeting certain expectations, especially those under voluntary, third-party certifications. The right food safety consultant must speak openly to a prospective client and give them an honest assessment of their situation as it pertains to the standard of interest.
All those qualities and qualifications are important when sourcing the right consultant for your business. Selecting the wrong consultant may have consequences such as lost time, resources and potentially even missed business opportunities. As a food business searching for a food safety consultant, you should take time and compare a few offers but ensure that you compare apples to apples. A professionally written consulting service agreement with a defined scope of work will make it easy to ensure you make the right comparison.
Here are BD Food Safety Consultants we believe in partnership with our clients. This means that our consulting service does not end in writing the Procedures or food safety plans but continues until the Program is implemented at the client facility and the client has sufficient knowledge to maintain the standard. Our team of experienced consultants has over 50 years of combined experience in managing food safety systems, teaching food safety standards and auditing. Learn about our 4-step consulting process and its effectiveness. Our team also offers free zoom calls to discuss your needs. To learn more and to schedule a free zoom call please visit OUR WEBISTE.