Limitations of Remote Food Safety Audits: Implications for ISO 22000 Certification Reliability

Remote auditing has become an essential tool for maintaining food safety certification activities under conditions that restrict physical access, including global disruptions and regional airspace limitations. Within ISO 22000 certification systems, remote audits are increasingly used for document review, virtual inspections, and stakeholder interviews; however, concerns remain regarding their ability to accurately verify actual food safety practices. This paper presents a narrative review of the key limitations associated with remote food safety audits and evaluates their implications for the reliability of ISO 22000 certification. Identified limitations include restricted physical verification, limited observational scope, increased reliance on documented evidence, and the potential for controlled audit conditions. These factors may reduce the depth and accuracy of audit findings and affect certification credibility. The paper also examines how these limitations influence verification of operational controls, assessment of food safety culture, and audit consistency. A hybrid audit model combining remote and on-site approaches is proposed. Practical recommendations are provided to enhance audit reliability.