The concept of a food safety culture is gaining traction in the cruise industry, with next year’s revision to the EU SHIPSAN’s European Manual for Hygiene Standards and Communicable Disease Surveillance on Passenger Ships expected to include a requirement for formally measuring a vessel’s food safety culture.
This anticipated update aligns with EU Regulation No. 852/2004, which, following its 2021 revision, underscores the importance of fostering a positive food safety culture. Drawing on the Codex Alimentarius Commission’s revised General Principles of Food Hygiene (CXC 1-1969), the regulation legally requires food business operators to “establish, maintain, and provide evidence of an appropriate food safety culture.”
For cruise lines, food safety is more than just a regulatory obligation—it’s fundamental to safeguarding the wellbeing of everyone on board, maintaining consumer trust, and protecting brand reputation.
But how do you measure something as intangible as culture, particularly in the unique and dynamic environment of a cruise ship?
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What is a Food Safety Culture?
According to the Codex Alimentarius, the success of any food hygiene system—which essentially refers to a company’s procedures and the measures applied at critical control points in the food production and handling process—hinges on the establishment and maintenance of a positive food safety culture. This culture acknowledges the critical role human behavior plays in ensuring that food is safe and suitable for consumption.
Several key elements contribute to building such a culture:
- Commitment from both management and employees to producing and handling safe food.
- Leadership that sets the right direction and engages all personnel in the correct food safety practices.
- Awareness among all team members of the importance of food hygiene.
- Open and clear communication within the organization, including the reporting of non-conformities and the establishment of company expectations.
- Sufficient resources to ensure the food hygiene system functions effectively.
A food safety culture refers to the collective attitudes, values, and behaviors within an organization that shape its approach to ensure the safety and suitability of food at all stages in the food chain. While the concept might seem straightforward in theory, in practice, it goes far beyond ticking boxes on a checklist or following standard operating procedures.
On a cruise ship, this culture is especially important because of confined spaces, shared facilities, and a constantly changing crew. These challenges require a commitment from every crew member—regardless of rank or role—to understand their responsibility in preventing foodborne illnesses and upholding high food safety standards.
The consequences of a lapse in food safety can be severe. A single mistake can lead to widespread disease outbreaks, causing disruptions to operations, damaging brand reputation and passenger trust, and, in the worst-case scenario, resulting in hospitalization or even loss of life. It is important that crew members understand these risks, as it helps them appreciate why following the correct processes is essential.
Why Measuring Food Safety Culture Matters
Measuring food safety culture enables cruise lines to identify strengths, uncover areas for improvement, set achievable goals, and track progress over time. However, assessing culture is inherently complex. It goes beyond simply tracking performance metrics; it requires a deeper understanding of the motivations behind human behavior—the “why” behind what people do.
To truly improve food safety, it’s essential to understand how crew members perceive food safety. Many in our industry focus on achieving high hygiene audit scores, but food safety is about more than just passing inspections—it serves a far greater purpose.
For those responsible for public health in the cruise industry—a point particularly relevant to Public Health Officers on board—the mission extends beyond ensuring compliance with regulatory standards or delivering crew training. These tasks are undeniably essential, but they are merely tools in achieving a higher goal: protecting the health of everyone on board.
It’s easy to get lost in the daily grind—ensuring crew wash their hands, verifying corrective actions, or confirming that dishwashing machines are functioning properly. Yet these activities alone won’t inspire the energy and commitment needed to sustain food safety day after day, cruise after cruise.
When you help your team see that their efforts contribute to a greater mission—saving lives through food safety—you tap into one of the most powerful motivators. Crew members need to feel that their role matters, that they are part of something bigger than just ticking compliance boxes. By instilling this sense of purpose, you transform food safety from a mundane task into a shared mission that inspires everyone involved.
Methods for Measuring Food Safety Culture
As the saying goes, “What gets measured gets managed.” This is especially true for food safety culture. Measuring the effectiveness of your food safety practices isn’t just about compliance—it’s about cultivating an environment where health and safety are embedded into every aspect of daily operations. Understanding your crew’s awareness, behaviors, and engagement with food safety is essential for driving continuous improvement.
Before measuring your food safety culture, it’s important to understand where it currently stands. Identifying your culture’s current state will help highlight areas for improvement and provide a clear path for progress.
Here are five key methods to evaluate your company’s food safety culture:
1. Employee Surveys and Feedback
One of the most effective ways to assess food safety culture is by collecting feedback directly from your crew and staff ashore. Anonymous surveys or structured interviews can offer insights into:
- Their understanding of food safety practices.
- Their confidence in reporting issues.
- How they perceive leadership’s commitment to food safety.
Sample questions could include:
- “Do you feel your role contributes to food safety?”
- “How often do you observe food safety protocols being followed in your work area?”
Analyzing response patterns can reveal areas where training, communication, or leadership may need attention. It’s crucial to foster a sense of personal responsibility at every level. Team members must understand the risks of neglecting food safety and feel empowered to voice concerns without fear of reprisal. Additionally, aligning training content with job competencies and ensuring it is regularly updated are important components of a robust food safety culture.
2. Observation & Audits
Day-to-day interactions in food handling areas provide valuable, real-time insights into food safety culture. Observe how food is stored, prepared, and served. Are crew members following protocols, or are they taking shortcuts?
Both scheduled and unannounced inspections are useful for assessing compliance. However, it’s essential to look beyond technicalities and examine behaviors such as:
- Are crew washing their hands when required?
- Do they understand why specific practices are critical?
Keep in mind that behavior noted during inspections may not always reflect daily routines. A true food safety culture is revealed by what crew members do when they believe they aren’t being watched. Observing these subtle habits will help determine whether food safety principles are fully ingrained or not.
3. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Quantitative data—such as inspection scores, non-conformities, and foodborne illness incidents—provides a baseline for evaluating food safety culture. While these metrics are valuable, they tell only part of the story.
To gain a deeper understanding, supplement KPIs with qualitative insights such as crew engagement in food safety briefings or their participation in training. For example, consistently high inspection scores might suggest well-organized processes, but crew feedback could highlight issues or misunderstandings that affect food safety and employee morale.
By combining hard data with crew attitudes and perceptions, you can develop a clearer picture of your food safety culture. This balance of quantitative and qualitative insights allows you to identify trends, address gaps, and inform strategies for long-term improvement.
However, while KPIs are useful for tracking performance, the actions of senior management are crucial in shaping the behaviors that drive those numbers.
4. Leadership Commitment
Leadership plays a vital role in establishing and nurturing a food safety culture. Crew members look to their officers and department heads for guidance. Do senior managers set the right example? Are they proactive and approachable when addressing food safety concerns?
Assessing leadership’s commitment is key. If leaders fail to prioritize food safety—whether through neglecting protocols, inconsistent enforcement, or lack of visibility—it sends a damaging message to the entire team. A strong food safety culture requires leaders who don’t just talk the talk but walk the walk.
Senior management, both on board and ashore, must demonstrate food safety as a non-negotiable priority. Leadership that actively reinforces best practices inspires confidence and accountability across all ranks, creating a culture where food safety becomes second nature.
5. Conformance to HACCP Plans
HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) plans are the backbone of food safety systems. A strong food safety culture is evident when crew members consistently and effectively follow these protocols.
Regular verification of HACCP procedures—including monitoring critical control points like cooking temperatures, storage conditions, and hygiene practices—is essential. Beyond ensuring compliance, these checks can identify opportunities for improvement and reinforce accountability throughout the team. Integrating HACCP principles into daily routines and training helps embed these standards into crew behavior, ensuring they are not merely rules to follow but essential practices to uphold.
When adherence to HACCP plans becomes a natural part of operations—rather than just a regulatory requirement—it strengthens the organization’s food safety foundation and fosters a deeper understanding of its importance among crew members.
A Culture That Drives Success
Incorporating a food safety culture into the hygiene guidelines for passenger ships is a forward-thinking step, but effectively measuring that culture remains a challenge. While the EU SHIPSAN program lays the foundation for regulatory compliance, the true impact of food safety culture comes from the ongoing commitment to safety, both in terms of operational excellence and crew engagement.
As we look toward the future, it’s important to remember that food safety culture goes beyond inspections and audits. A resilient food safety culture drives operational success, reduces health-related incidents, improves guest satisfaction, and strengthens brand reputation. It fosters an environment where food safety becomes ingrained in every action and decision—not just for compliance, but as a key driver of long-term success.
By building and measuring a strong food safety culture, you’re not only safeguarding the health of your passengers and crew, but also positioning your cruise line for success in a competitive and highly regulated industry. This commitment pays dividends at every level of your operation, from the galley to the guest experience. And, by empowering your crew to see food safety as a shared mission, you can transform this everyday task into a powerful force that protects lives and strengthens your organization’s integrity.