Quality assurance (QA) is of utmost importance today in the operation of a restaurant, hotel or other foodservice business. QA is key in creating an establishment that is safe for guests and employees, and also profitable for the company. To accomplish this mission, there are three areas that must be addressed: food safety, workplace safety and the guest experience.

PROTECTING A GOOD NAME
Foodservice and hospitality owners and operators are becoming more aware that they need not only safeguard their customers, staff and bottom line, but also protect their brand from getting a bad reputation. While local health inspectors are working to keep up with the battle to ensure public safety, foodservice owners and operators are turning to a new ally to aid in the fight. Third-party food safety auditors are being brought in to augment the existing monitoring, training and programs that operations have in place. What is the difference between a health inspector and a private auditor? Third-party [private] providers evaluate against how each location is aligned with their corporate standards. An experienced private assessor will also provide on-site feedback during the evaluation. The third-party evaluation will help protect against fines and/or bad press. The government inspector's examination could result in a fine and/or bad press.

DEVASTATING TO AN OPERATION
Cross contamination and improper time and temperature holding, which could result in a foodborne illness outbreak, are top of mind in today’s foodservice industry. The impact of an outbreak cannot be overemphasized. A recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive showed that almost two-thirds (63%) of its 2,357 respondents said that they “are extremely or very concerned with the cleanliness of restaurants” in which they eat.

Third-party auditors can monitor staff members as to their hand washing and other personal hygiene habits to help in reducing the spread of infection. Some auditing firms can also implement certification programs, such as ServSafe, sponsored by the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation.

REDUCING WORKPLACE INJURIES
Protecting employees and customers from harm and keeping businesses in compliance is another industry concern. Third-party auditors observe high traffic and other high risk areas where injuries can occur. They also measure OSHA compliance. This helps result in reduced work-related compensation claims resulting from falls, burns and cuts, and lawsuits brought about by customer mishaps.

A HAPPY GUEST
The ultimate goal in any foodservice or hospitality operation is an enjoyable guest experience, which is key to repeat business. Third-party auditors conduct service and cleanliness evaluations to ensure brand and service standards are consistently achieved. Some can also provide menu assessments, nutrition verification, allergen analysis and national sampling and testing. Onsite mystery shoppers record and track real-world experiences such as product performance and employee service.

PARTNERSHIP IS KEY
To achieve maximum results, the third-party firm should partner with the client in all phases of program development, delivery and evaluation. This ensures that the standards of the operation are incorporated into the total program. Ecolab’s EcoSure division has developed an independent third-party audit system to tackle today’s quality assurance issues. EcoSure assists more than 50,000 properties in the hospitality, foodservice, supermarket and food processing industries to meet this trio of challenges. Remember, the use of a third-party food safety auditor today, could result in a glowing recommendation from the local health inspector and your guests tomorrow.