--- title: 5 Tips to Prepare for Your Food Safety Inspection description: Here are five strategies to reach and maintain high standards for your workers and facilities — so you’re never caught off guard by a food safety inspection. image: https://blog.aibinternational.com/hubfs/woman%20hair%20net%20smiling.jpg --- English [English](https://blog.aibinternational.com/?hsLang=en) [Spanish](https://blog.aibinternational.com/es?hsLang=es) - [800-633-5137](tel:800-633-5137) - [Contact](https://www.aibinternational.com/pages/contact) - [Sign in](https://www.aibinternational.com/account) [![](https://blog.aibinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/AIB_International_EN_August2024/images/aib-logo.png?width=151&height=757&name=aib-logo.png)](https://aibinternational.myshopify.com/) - [Training](https://www.aibinternational.com/pages/training) - [Topics](https://www.aibinternational.com/pages/training) - [Baking Training](https://www.aibinternational.com/collections/baking-training) - [GFSI Training](https://www.aibinternational.com/collections/gfsi-training) - 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[Sign in](https://www.aibinternational.com/account) - - - English [English](https://blog.aibinternational.com/?hsLang=en) [Spanish](https://blog.aibinternational.com/es?hsLang=es) ![5 Tips to Prepare for Your Food Safety Inspection](https://blog.aibinternational.com/hubfs/woman%20hair%20net%20smiling.jpg) # 5 Tips to Prepare for Your Food Safety Inspection - Home - [AIB International Blog](https://blog.aibinternational.com) - 5 Tips to Prepare for Your Food Safety Inspection [AIB International](https://blog.aibinternational.com/author/aib-international) 02/02/2022 [GMPs](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/gmps), [Webinars](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/webinars) [9 Comments](https://blog.aibinternational.com/five-tips-to-prepare-for-your-food-safety-inspection?hsLang=en#postComment) 2 Minutes ## 5 Tips to Prepare for Your Food Safety Inspection Food safety inspections can be stressful, especially if you, your team, and facility haven't taken the proper steps to prepare. Failing an inspection can be taxing on your organization, leading to fines, legal action, and decreased customer trust.   The [FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)](https://www.fda.gov/food/compliance-enforcement-food/inspections-protect-food-supply#:~:text=Routine%20inspections%20of%20facilities%20and,non%2Dhigh%2Drisk%20facilities.) requires routine inspections every five years for domestic non-high-risk facilities, and every three years for domestic high-risk facilities. Even if you’re not due for one, there could be other food safety inspections that can occur at unexpected times.  Here are five tips you can use in preparation for your next food safety inspection. ## How to Prepare for Your Next Inspection  If you stay ready, you don't have to get ready, which is why preparing isn't just something you should do before a food safety inspection; it's a continuous practice to ensure consistency. Here’s what to focus on so your team won't be scrambling at the last minute.  1. **Understand the Standard** – Start by exploring which food safety standard applies to your facility. To prepare your team, access AIB International's inspection standards for [Prerequisite and Food Safety](https://aibinternational.com/products/consolidated-standards-for-inspection-of-prerequisite-and-food-safety-programs), [Beverage Facilities](https://aibinternational.com/products/consolidated-standards-for-inspection-of-beverage-facilities), and [Food Distribution Centers](https://aibinternational.com/products/consolidated-standards-for-inspection-of-food-distribution-centers), among others.  2. **Develop an Audit Team** – Rather than relying on an individual to scope out the whole facility, select a group composed of people with diverse backgrounds and roles to increase the likelihood of catching every opportunity for improvement. Your audit team should include members from Food Safety, QA, leadership, and the frontlines. Rely on each member to focus on specific sections of the standard to ensure compliance. If you're the only person with the capacity to take on this role, don’t despair. AIB International can assist, with support from [Assign an Expert](https://aibinternational.com/products/assign-an-expert), our [Inspection Only](https://aibinternational.com/products/inspection-only) unscored inspection, and our how-to guide on [Self Inspections for Beverage Plants](https://aibinternational.com/products/how-to-guide-self-inspections-for-beverage-plants).  3. **Audit Internally** – This team should audit your facility together, one department or section of the standard at a time. Use your chosen standard as guidance during the audit to help assess your facility and team’s progress. Be curious about what you might find, and use the standard scoring system to objectively assess your facility and team. Doing so will provide insight into your facility’s risk, while directing opportunities for improvement. When auditing, take the necessities, such as a strong flashlight, a small notepad, and a pen. All of this should easily fit in your back pocket, freeing up both hands to conduct a more thorough inspection. If your facility allows it, utilizing a camera during your inspection can also provide value. AIB International’s [International Auditing Techniques Instructor-Led Training](https://aibinternational.com/products/internal-auditing-techniques) course includes more about how to execute a successful audit.  4. **Train Personnel** – The more personnel understand the importance of the inspection and its basic requirements, the more they can share the responsibilities and eventual successes. Including inspection standards in routine employee training will demonstrate the importance of preparedness from day one for new hires. This understanding of risk will help drive their involvement in applying successful corrective actions.  5. **Be Inspection Ready All the Time** – With broad participation, your facility should be ready all the time, as preparedness will be a part of your facility’s food safety culture. This will also prepare teams for an unannounced food safety inspection, whether third-party or regulatory. ## The Bottom Line on Food Safety Inspection Preparedness Your preparedness for a future food safety inspection hinges on your ability to achieve organizational buy-in and provide your team with support for inspection success. Whenever confusion arises, AIB International has a number of [resources](https://aibinternational.com/pages/food-safety) that provide a roadmap for achieving and maintaining compliance with today's food safety standards.  --- #### Tag: [GMPs](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/gmps) [Webinars](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/webinars) #### Share: - [Follow us on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.aibinternational.com/five-tips-to-prepare-for-your-food-safety-inspection) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.aibinternational.com/five-tips-to-prepare-for-your-food-safety-inspection&text=5%20Tips%20to%20Prepare%20for%20Your%20Food%20Safety%20Inspection) - [Follow us on Linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.aibinternational.com/five-tips-to-prepare-for-your-food-safety-inspection) - [Follow us on Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.aibinternational.com/five-tips-to-prepare-for-your-food-safety-inspection&text=5%20Tips%20to%20Prepare%20for%20Your%20Food%20Safety%20Inspectiondescription=Food%20safety%20inspections%20can%20be%20stressful,%20especially%20if%20you,%20your%20team,%20and%20facility%20haven't%20taken%20the%20proper%20steps%20to%20prepare.%20Failing%20an%20inspection%20can%20be[...]&media=https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/9415207/woman%20hair%20net%20smiling.jpg) --- #### [3 Tips for Foreign Material Control Previous Post](https://blog.aibinternational.com/three-tips-for-controlling-foreign-material?hsLang=en) #### [5 Things You Need to Know About Bioengineered Food Labeling Next Post](https://blog.aibinternational.com/five-things-you-need-to-know-about-bioengineered-labeling?hsLang=en) ### Category - [Food Safety (76)](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/food-safety) - [Labeling (18)](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/labeling) - [food safety culture (16)](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/food-safety-culture) - [Food Defense (14)](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/food-defense) - [GFSI (13)](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/gfsi) ### Popular Posts [AIB International](https://blog.aibinternational.com/author/aib-international) 02/13/2022 [FDA](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/fda), [Labeling](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/labeling) [5 Things You Need to Know About Bioengineered Food Labeling](https://blog.aibinternational.com/five-things-you-need-to-know-about-bioengineered-labeling?hsLang=en) [AIB International](https://blog.aibinternational.com/author/aib-international) 11/19/2024 [Microbiology](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/microbiology) [​6 Most Common Foodborne Pathogens and How to Prevent Them](https://blog.aibinternational.com/6-most-common-foodborne-pathogens-and-how-to-prevent-them?hsLang=en) [Admin](https://blog.aibinternational.com/author/admin) 11/19/2020 [Labeling](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/labeling) [3 Ways Allulose Impacts Your Nutrition Label](https://blog.aibinternational.com/en/food-first-blog/postid/1381/3-ways-allulose-impacts-your-nutrition-label?hsLang=en) [AIB International](https://blog.aibinternational.com/author/aib-international) 07/19/2022 [HACCP](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/haccp) [Discover the HACCP Steps Defined by the Codex Alimentarius](https://blog.aibinternational.com/new-to-haccp-discover-the-12-steps-to-haccp-defined-by-the-codex-alimentarius-free-download?hsLang=en) --- ## Related Posts [Webinars](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/webinars), [Webinar](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/webinar) [Admin](https://blog.aibinternational.com/author/admin) 18 March, 2021 #### [To Ensure Food Safety, Do You Understand HACCP’s 12 Steps?](https://blog.aibinternational.com/en/food-first-blog/postid/1410/to-ensure-food-safety-do-you-understand-haccps-12-steps?hsLang=en) [Read More](https://blog.aibinternational.com/en/food-first-blog/postid/1410/to-ensure-food-safety-do-you-understand-haccps-12-steps?hsLang=en) [GMPs](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/gmps), [Webinars](https://blog.aibinternational.com/tag/webinars) [Admin](https://blog.aibinternational.com/author/admin) 16 June, 2020 #### [Top 3 Questions about Hybrid Inspections](https://blog.aibinternational.com/en/food-first-blog/postid/1319/top-3-questions-about-hybrid-inspections?hsLang=en) [Read More](https://blog.aibinternational.com/en/food-first-blog/postid/1319/top-3-questions-about-hybrid-inspections?hsLang=en) Subscribe for updates [![AIB International](https://blog.aibinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/AIB_International_EN_August2024/images/footer-logo.png?width=168&height=757&name=footer-logo.png "AIB International")](https://aibinternational.myshopify.com/) AIB International, Inc. 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