The most awkward EHO Inspection ever…

EHO Story

There are some things you expect to find during a food hygiene inspection—dirty chopping boards, out-of-date food, maybe even the odd mouse dropping.

Then there are the things you never expect to find.

Like… this.

One of my colleagues went to inspect a food business. When she arrived, there was no one at the counter. She waited. Called out. Nothing.

After a while, she decided to step around the counter to see if anyone was in the back.

She found someone, alright.

A staff member. Alone. Very preoccupied with himself.

Yep. That happened 😲

She came straight back to the office looking traumatised. And honestly? Fair enough.

Food Safety Tip

While this isn’t exactly covered in the Food Safety Act or other Regulations (thankfully), it does highlight an important issue: staff hygiene and behaviour in food businesses matter.

When working in food preparation areas, staff should:

✔️ Maintain excellent personal hygiene.
✔️ Wash their hands properly—especially after using the toilet (or… whatever else they’re doing).
✔️ Be aware that CCTV exists and EHO inspections can happen at any time.

And if you’re a business owner? Maybe make sure your team knows what not to do at work…

The Serious Lesson

While this might be one of the more extreme examples of bad staff behaviour, it’s a good reminder: you never know when an inspector might walk in.

Train your team. Set expectations. And for the love of food safety, make sure they’re actually at the counter when customers (or EHOs) arrive!