If you are looking to hire a mobile bar for an event or celebration, there’s no doubt you’ll have a lot of questions, including does the bar have food hygiene certificates?
You’ll want to know how much it will cost, whether it will be available on the day you need it and most importantly, whether it will serve delicious cocktails!
You’ll also need to know if the bar is compliant with the latest food and drink hygiene regulations.
We’ve put together this guide so you can find out more about the legal requirements and how you can be sure the food and drink served at your event will be safe.
Why food hygiene is so important for bars and mobile bars
With bars and mobile bars, food and drink must be stored, prepared and handled in a way that reduces the risk of people contracting an illness caused by bacteria or viruses.
It’s estimated that there are 2.4 million cases of foodborne illness in the UK each year. This means that people in the hospitality industry must do all they can to minimise the risk of infection.
You may not think that food hygiene may be an issue in a mobile bar, but there are risks that need to be considered. For example:
* A fruit garnish that has not been washed and is contaminated with animal waste
* A dirty ice cube machine, leading to contaminated ice cubes
* Dairy products that are past their sell-by date or have not been refrigerated correctly
* A member of staff who is suffering from food poisoning, handling glasses and drinks
There are various foodborne illnesses that businesses must mitigate against, including norovirus, salmonella, campylobacter and E.coli. Foodborne pathogens spread quickly, meaning that it is likely that several people will be infected in an outbreak.
In the best-case scenario, a bout of food poisoning can ruin a night out. In the worst-case scenario, it can lead to hospitalisation or further illness.
Hygiene has become even more critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers want reassurance that the bar area is clean and staff have high levels of personal hygiene.
The food and drinks safety requirements you need to be aware of
There are many pieces of food safety legislation that apply to mobile bars. Here are some of the most prominent laws and what they mean.
* The Food Safety Act 1990. Under this act, offering food and drink that is harmful to health is illegal, even if the mobile bar doesn’t realise the effect of doing so. Selling food or drink that is not as described is against the law too – for example, giving the customer coke when they asked for a diet coke
* The General Food Law Regulation (EC) No 178/2002. This was originally an EU regulation but with Brexit, it has been passed into UK law. Under this law, businesses cannot sell or supply food or drink unsafe or unfit for human consumption. Bars also need to keep records of the businesses that provide them with food and drink
* The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013. This act gives local councils the power to stop food businesses from selling food and drink if they think they are not adhering to hygiene practices. We’ll look at how they do this later in the article.
Food safety certificates and training for bar staff
It’s not a legal requirement that staff working in mobile bars must have food safety certificates. However, mobile bars must take responsibility for training their staff to be compliant with food hygiene standards. Training can be the best way to achieve this.
A food hygiene course gives staff the information they need to carry out their job safely, and teaches them food safety topics including:
* How to store food at the right temperature and conditions
* Personal hygiene and appropriate workwear
* How to clean and disinfect the bar thoroughly
* How to prevent food poisoning
* How to identify pests and prevent them from infesting the bar
* What cross-contamination is and how to avoid it
* How to safely dispose of waste
Courses can be carried out face-to-face and online, and typically need to be renewed every three years.
If you are hiring a mobile bar, don’t be afraid to ask to see proof of food safety certificates.
How mobile bars can show their compliance with food hygiene requirements
All mobile bars, as well as other food businesses, must register with their local council.
When registered, the bar may be inspected by the council’s environmental health officer (EHO). Depending on the risk, food businesses are typically inspected between every six months and every two years. However the council has the right to carry out an inspection at any time, for example, if it receives a complaint from a member of the public.
The EHO will check the bar is clean and tidy, food is stored correctly, there are no pests, and that waste is disposed of safely.
After the inspection, the mobile bar will be given a score from 0 to 5. A five means that the bar’s hygiene is very good, while a zero means urgent improvements are needed.
After the inspection, the EHO will advise what can be done to improve the score. If there is an immediate risk to public health, the council can close the business until things are put right.
Our top tip? Check the food hygiene ratings before you book a mobile bar – if the bar has a 5 rating, it’s a sign that the staff are committed to food safety.
Search the food hygiene rating scores.
In conclusion
We hope this guide has given you insight into the food hygiene requirements for mobile bars, and how you can tell a bar is committed to high safety standards.
Keeping customers safe is a high priority for all businesses in the hospitality industry, and mobile bars are no exception.
Don’t be afraid to ask a prospective mobile bar provider questions to see how they handle, prepare and store food and drink. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about food safety, so please contact us today.
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