Food business operators that repeatedly violate food safety legislation: operators’ and their food inspectors’ views on the reasons and solutions

Food business operators (FBOs) that repeatedly violate food safety legislation (repeat violators) represent a persistent risk to consumer health. This study aimed to explore the causes of repeated non-compliance among FBOs of food production establishments and discover the elements contributing to corrections among repeat violators. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 Finnish FBOs of meat, fish or mixed food establishments and 12 of their inspectors. The data were analysed through reflexive thematic analysis. Repeat violators and their inspectors agreed that indifference, lack of knowledge and resources, and information flow and decision-making challenges were important background reasons for repeated non-compliance. Furthermore, FBOs considered that some demands are unreasonable, decreasing their compliance motivation. Inconsistent control was raised by FBOs and inspectors as an important factor affecting compliance motivation negatively, whereas stricter control measures were only raised by inspectors. These results highlight measures that inspectors can use in different situations depending on the reasons for repeated non-compliance.