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Safer Food, Better Business

What is the SFBB 4-weekly review?

The 4-weekly review is the Safer Food, Better Business manager check of the previous weeks. You look back at the diary, the 4 Cs, and persistent problems, then sign it off. Skipping it is a common gap in both paper and digital packs.

Last reviewed: . Written by Oriel Technology Ltd.

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What the 4-weekly review is for

The diary shows what happened each day. The 4-weekly review is how a manager looks back: did opening checks actually happen, did a fridge keep failing, did a new cook skip the probe. FSA SFBB guidance says officers may want to look at diary pages as well as the pack. The review is the pack’s memory, not a separate audit product.

What to walk through

Work through the 4 Cs plus management — the same headings as the paper pack.

  • Cross-contamination — separation, cloths, raw and ready-to-eat
  • Cleaning — chemicals, cloths, scheduled cleans
  • Chilling — fridge readings, deliveries, cooling
  • Cooking — probe use, hot-holding, reheating
  • Management — training, suppliers, the diary itself

Note persistent problems. Sign it. If the same walk-in has been at 10°C for three weeks and nobody wrote an action, the review has failed even if every box is ticked.

Why paper reviews stall between shifts

The pack lives in the office. The GM is on the floor. Progress is a folded page. Digital review with saved progress is the same job without losing the pack between shifts. It is not a new management system.

What an EHO asks to see usually includes this sign-off for the dates they care about.

How System Hub runs the review

Food Safety includes a 4-weekly SFBB Review across Cross-contamination, Cleaning, Chilling, Cooking, and Management. Progress saves as you go. Same login as daily checks. 14-day trial, no card, then £5/week per location via Stripe.

Store all your completed diary pages safely until your next visit from a local authority food safety officer. This can be done electronically or with printed copies.

Safer food, better business (SFBB), Food Standards Agency / GOV.UK, 5 June 2025. England and Wales.
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FAQ

Questions about the 4-weekly review

What is the SFBB 4-weekly review?
It is the manager look-back in the Safer Food, Better Business pack. Every four weeks you review the diary, the 4 Cs (cross-contamination, cleaning, chilling, cooking), and management methods, note persistent problems, and sign it off. FSA officers may ask to see it with the diary pages.
Is the 4-weekly review a legal requirement?
A HACCP-based food safety management system is a legal requirement. SFBB is the FSA pack most small catering businesses in England and Wales use to meet that duty. The 4-weekly review is part of that pack. If SFBB is your system, skipping the review is a gap in the system — not an optional extra.
Can the 4-weekly review be digital?
Yes, if it is complete, dated, and accessible. FSA lists an electronic diary as an option in England and Wales. The review still has to cover the safe methods, not only a list of temperatures. See digital SFBB records.
How much is System Hub Food Safety?
14-day trial, no card. Then £5/week per location via Stripe. Cancel anytime.