Community food safety

Ensuring Food Safety in Community Food Projects

Watch the "Guide to Community Food Safety" video for key tips on food safety best practices

Food safety is a critical part of community food provision, ensuring that surplus food is handled, stored, and distributed in a way that protects public health. With millions of people in the UK relying on food banks and other food aid initiatives, maintaining high food safety standards is essential to prevent contamination, reduce waste, and ensure that all food provided is safe to eat. This includes proper temperature control, allergen management, hygiene practices, and clear labelling.

By ensuring food safety measures are followed an implemented correctly community food projects can ensure food remains safe and high quality for those who need it most. The Ensuring Safe Transitions guide provides clear and practical food safety protocols for food banks, pantries, community kitchens, and surplus food distributors.

Developed in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, Birmingham Food Partnership, and The Active Wellbeing Society, the guide offers best practices on safe food storage, transportation, allergen management, and hygiene. The guide also includes checklists, food safety process recommendations, and links to Food Standards Agency guidance to support community food initiatives in handling food safely. Access the full Ensuring Safe Transitions:

Guidelines for Community Food Provisions and Food Donors Supporting the Community Food Sector guide

Page last updated: 3 March 2025