Meeting food safety standards has just become less stressful for independent bakeries, with the launch of Checkit Solo - a digital food safety system from Checkit.

Checkit Solo gets rid of food safety paperwork and checklists as the system could save at least a day of staff time every month by making life easier for owners and head chefs.

Similar to a phone service, but with no ongoing contract required, the digital food safety system costs just £199 and £19.99 a month.

It includes the handheld Checkit Memo, which comes pre-loaded with digital, food inspector-approved, checklists based on the Food Standards Agency’s Safer Food Better Business, a smart wireless temperature probe, real-time alerts and secure online storage for food safety records.

When food hygiene tasks are due, they are automatically flagged on the Memo, making sure staff complete them – and if they are missed, owners are immediately alerted.

Digital food safety records are instantly created and time-stamped, as staff finish tasks, and are stored securely online, meaning they are always accurate, up to date and accessible from anywhere through a smartphone, PC or tablet.

There have been a number of bakeries failing food hygiene standards across the nation in recent months, with Romeo’s Sugar Free Bakery, La Jawaab Bakery and La Tradition all being fined heavily.

Richard Ackland, a Checkit Solo customer, said: “As a start-up mobile franchise, getting food safety right seemed daunting. Paper-based food diary records were unwieldy, and just plain awkward in a small mobile food establishment.

“Checkit, however, solved all these issues. The small robust device was perfect for us and we now embed all our food safety routines easily throughout the day, as it should be, rather than being a chore at the end. I was running my first food check within half an hour of unpacking my handheld Memo. For the price it is a no brainer!”