FSSAI India Food Safety Audit Inspection Checklist For Restaurants, Bars, Cafes, QSR and Dark Kitchens

Madhur Ramani

Mar 4, 2024 • 6 min read

FSSAI [Food Safety And Standards Authority Of India] is the governing organisation responsible for food safety compliance in India. Below is the audit inspection checklist used by FSSAI auditors while inspecting restaurants, bars, cafes, QSRs and dark kitchens.

Pro Tip: Using a software such as PeakScale to manage daily checklists and standard operating procedures [SOP] related to kitchen, front of house, service, bar, production, warehouse, maintenance, housekeeping, trainings and assets ensures that your outlets are well prepared to pass any FSSAI audit inspection with high scores.

In fact, the below FSSAI audit inspection checklist for restaurants, bars, cafes, QSRs and dark kitchens can easily be implemented on PeakScale to conduct surprise audit inspections on your outlets yourself.

Note: The below FSSAI audit inspection checklist is best viewed on a computer.

S No	Audit Question	Max Score
1	Food establishment has an updated FSSAI license and is displayed at a prominent location.	2
I.	Design & facilities
2	The design of food premises provides adequate working space; permit maintenance & cleaning to prevent the entry of dirt, dust & pests.	2
3	The internal structure & fittings are made of non-toxic and impermeable material.	2
4	Walls, ceilings & doors are free from flaking paint or plaster, condensation & shedding particles.	2
5	Floors arenon-absorbent, non-slippery & sloped appropriately.	2
6	Windows are kept closed & fitted with insect proof screen when opening to external environment.	2
7	Doors are smooth and non-absorbent. Suitable precautions have been taken prevent entry of pests.	2
8*	Potable water (meeting standards of IS:10500 & tested semi-annually with records maintained thereof) is used as product ingredient or in contact with food or food contact surface.	4
9	Equipment and containers are made of non-toxic, impervious, non- corrosive material which is easy to clean & disinfect.	2
10	Adequate facilities for heating, cooling, refrigeration and freezing food & facilitate monitoring of temperature.	2
11	Premise has sufficient lighting.Lighting fixtures are protected to prevent contamination on breakage .	2
12	Adequate ventilation is provided within the premises.	2
13	An adequate storage facility for food, packaging materials, chemicals, personnel items etc is available.	2
14	Personnel hygiene facilities are available including adequate number of hand washing facilities, toilets, change rooms for employees.	2
15	Food material is tested either through internal laboratory or through an accredited lab. Check for records.	2
II.	Control of operation
16	Incoming material is procured as per internally laid down specification from approved vendors. Check for records (like certificate of analysis, Form E, specifications, name and address of the supplier, batch no., mfg., use by/expiry date, quantity procured etc.)	2
17	Raw materials are inspected at the time of receiving for food safety hazards.(Farm produce like vegetables, fruits, eggs etc. must be checked for spoilage and accepted only in good condition)	2
18	Incoming material, semi or final products are stored according to their temperature requirement in a hygienic environment to avoid deterioration and protect from contamination. FIFO & FEFO is practised. (Foods of animal origin are stored at a temperature less than or equal to 4oC )	2
19	All raw materials is cleaned thoroughly before food preparation.	2
20	Proper segregation of raw, cooked; vegetarian and non-vegetarian food is done.	2
21	All the equipment is adequately sanitized before and after food preparation.	2
22*	Frozen food is thawed hygienically. No thawed food is stored for later use. (Meat, Fish and poultry is thawed in refrigerator at 5 oC or below or in microwave. Shellfish/seafood is thawed in cold potable running water at 15 oC or below within 90 minutes.	4
23*	Vegetarian items are cooked to a minimum of 60oC for 10 minutes or 65oC for 2 minutes core food temperature. Non vegetarian items are cooked for a minimum of 65oC for 10 minutes or 70oC for 2 minutes or 75oC for 15 seconds core food temperature.	4
24*	Cooked food intended for refrigeration is cooled appropriately. (High risk food is cooled from 60o C to 21oC within 2 hours or less and further cooled to 5o C within two hours or less.)	4
25	Food portioning is done in hygienic conditions. High risk food is portioned in a refrigerated area or portioned and refrigerated within 30 minutes. Large amount of food is portioned below 15 o C.	2
26*	Hotfood intended for consumption is held at65o Cand non-vegetarian food intended for consumption is held at 70oC. Cold foods are maintained at 5oC or below and frozen products are held at -18o C or below. (*Hot food is kept above 65oC and cold food is kept below 5OC but below 10 oCupto 42 hours for not more than two hours only once.)	4
27*	Reheating is done appropriately and no indirect of reheating such as adding hot water or reheating under bainmaire or reheating under lamp are being used. (The core temperature of food reaches 75oC and is reheated for at least 2 minutes at this temperature.)	4
28	Oil being used is suitable for cooking purposes is being used. Periodic verification of fat and oil by checking the color, the flavour and floated elements is being done.	2
29*	Vehicle intended for food transportation are kept clean and maintained in good repair & are maintain required temperature. (Hot foods are held at 65o C, cold foods at 5o C andfrozen item -18oCduring transportation or transported within 2 hours of food preparation).	4
30	Food and non-food products transported at same time in the same vehicle is separated adequately to avoid any risk to food.	2
31	Cutlery, crockery used for serving and dinner accompaniments at dining service are clean and sanitized free form unhygienic matters.	2
32	Packaging and wrapping material coming in contact with food is clean and of food grade quality.	2
III.	Maintenance & sanitation
33	Cleaning of equipment, food premises is done as per cleaning schedule & cleaning programme.There should be no stagnation of water in food zones.	2
34	Preventive maintenance of equipment and machinery are carried out regularly as per the instructions of the manufacturer.Check for records.	2
35	Measuring & monitoring devices are calibrated periodically.	2
36	Pest control program is available & pest control activities are carried out by trained and experienced personnel. Check for records.	2
37*	No signs of pest activity or infestation in premises (eggs, larvae, faeces etc.)	4
38	Drains are designed to meet expected flow loads and equipped with grease and cockroach traps to capture contaminants and pests.	2
39	Food waste and other refuse are removed periodically from food handling areas to avoid accumulation.	2
IV.	Personal Hygiene
40	Annual medical examination & inoculation of food handlers against the enteric group of diseases as per recommended schedule of the vaccine is done. Check for records.	2
41	No person suffering from a disease or illness or with open wounds or burns is involved in handling of food or materials which come in contact with food.	2
42*	Food handlers maintain personal cleanliness (clean clothes, trimmed nails &water proof bandage etc.) and personal behaviour (hand washing, no loose jewellery, no smoking, no spitting etc.)	4
43	Food handlers are equipped with suitable aprons, gloves, headgear, etc.; wherever necessary.	2
V.	Training & records keeping
44	Internal / External audit of the system is done periodically. Check for records.	2
45	Food Business has an effective consumer complaints redressal mechanism.	2
46	Food handlers have the necessary knowledge and skills & trained to handle food safely. Check for training records.	2
47*	Appropriate documentation & records are available and retained for a period of one year, whichever is more.	4

Total points ...../114

Asterisk mark (*) questions may significantly impact food safety & therefore must be addressed as a priority. Failure in any of the asterisk mark questions will lead to Non-compliance.

Grading –

A+ // 100 - 114 [Compliance - Exemplar]

A // 91 - 99 [Compliance - Satisfactory]

B // 77 - 90 [Needs Improvement]

No Grade // <77 [Non-compliance]

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