Who SFBB is for
GOV.UK describes SFBB as detailing the food safety management procedures for small businesses. It applies to England and Wales. There are packs for caterers and retailers, versions for Chinese and Indian cuisine, and packs for childminders and residential care homes.
Every food business needs a food-safety management system based on HACCP principles. SFBB is a common and practical way for a small business to have one. Scotland uses CookSafe and Northern Ireland uses Safe Catering.
The safe methods
The pack is divided into sections of fact sheets called safe methods, covering cross-contamination, cleaning, chilling, cooking and management. Each safe method explains a safety point, why it matters and what to do if things go wrong, and leaves space for you to write down how your business does it.
The FSA suggests working through one section at a time, and completing the pack before food operations start.
How the SFBB diary works
- Every day: tick to confirm your opening checks and closing checks were done.
- When something is different or goes wrong: write a note under that day, with what you did about it.
- Sign off: the person responsible writes their name and signs to say the safe methods were followed.
- Extra checks: note jobs you do not do every day, such as equipment maintenance or cleaning the freezer.
- Every 4 weeks: a manager or supervisor completes the 4-weekly review to spot persistent problems.
The FSA says completed diary pages should be kept safely until the next visit from a food safety officer.
The SFBB pack says that, as a minimum, you need to fill in the diary each day, and that depending on the size and nature of your business you may need more records to show you are making food safely. It also says it is a legal requirement to keep a record of the food you buy: what, who from, the quantity, the date and allergen information. Invoices and receipts usually cover this.
Can SFBB records be kept digitally?
Yes. The FSA says completed diary pages can be stored electronically or as printed copies. What matters is that the records are genuine, kept up to date and available when an officer asks. The pack itself still needs to describe how your business works.
