A structured check of a food business against its food safety program or a standard, carried out by a food safety auditor.
An inspection is a regulator's on-site compliance check, while an audit is a structured assessment against the business's own food safety program, usually done by a food safety auditor.
Typically higher-risk businesses, such as those serving vulnerable persons, or businesses required to have a certified food safety program by law or contract.
A qualified food safety auditor, who may be approved by the relevant state authority to audit against the applicable standard or program.
Frequency depends on risk and past performance; businesses with strong records may be audited less often than those with a history of problems.
The auditor records non-conformances that must be corrected within set timeframes, and serious issues may be referred to the enforcement agency.