If observed practices do not match documented procedures, it signals that food safety controls may not be implemented as intended. When this happens, it can lead to:
- Audit findings or nonconformances,
- Questions about employee training and understanding,
- Increased scrutiny of related processes, and
- Potential risk to product safety.
Consistency between procedures, employee behavior, and records is essential for demonstrating control and showing that food safety systems are functioning as designed.