Food businesses across the UK can now access guidance and advice from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) via an online hub.

The new hub brings together popular FSA guidance pages such as “How to set up a food business and “How to achieve a good food hygiene rating and manage allergens to keep customers safe”.

Businesses will also be able to find new case studies on the FSA blog which tell real stories about how working with your a authority and the FSA can help to get food businesses off the ground and grow safely and successfully.

“We know that new businesses find it difficult to know wher to start. We also know that many aren’t aware it is their legal duty to register with their Local Authority (LA) at least 28 days before opening their business,” said the Agency.

“Our business guidance hub makes it easier for food businesses to find the information they need to ensure they get their hygiene and standards right to protect consumers from the moment they open.”

Commenting on the new hub, Katie Pettifer, Director of Strategy and Regulatory Compliance at the FSA, said: “At a time when new food businesses are facing cost pressures and other challenges, the FSA and local authorities want to make it easier for businesses to do the right thing.

“Our new online hub has the advice and guidance that any new food business needs to make a success of running a compliant and safe business.”

In addition. Pettifer highlighted that the FSA will also be publishing case studies from Environmental Health Practitioners across England and Wales in order to share why they do their job and what they are looking for when they inspect businesses.