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The law and your business
What is Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB)?
The short answer
Safer Food, Better Business is a free food safety management pack from the Food Standards Agency for small food businesses. It gives you ready-made safe methods and a daily diary, which together meet the legal need for procedures based on HACCP principles.
Last checked 25 September 2026 against official guidance · see the sources.
Who it’s for
SFBB comes in versions for different kinds of business, including caterers, retailers, childminders and care homes. It’s used across England and Wales. Scotland has its own version, CookSafe, from Food Standards Scotland, with ready-made HACCP charts, house rules and an action plan.
What’s in the pack
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| Safe methods | Step-by-step ways to work safely, grouped by area (cross-contamination, cleaning, chilling, cooking, management) |
| Diary | A daily sign-off that your safe methods were followed, plus space to note problems and what you did |
| Records | Extra sheets for things such as staff training and suppliers |
How long to keep the diary
The official guidance says to keep your completed diary pages safely until your next visit from a food safety officer. It doesn’t set a fixed number of months or years.
Is it compulsory?
You must have food safety procedures based on HACCP principles, but you don’t have to use SFBB. It’s simply the easiest free way for a small business to do it. Other systems, including your own HACCP plan, are fine if they cover the same ground.
Free record sheet: Cooking, Cooling & Reheating Log
Free to download and print, in 15 languages. No sign-up.
Get the free poster →HACCP for Catering & Retail: free practice course
Learn the seven HACCP principles behind SFBB, free to try. No card needed.
Try the free practice course →