Leading by example: A three-wave sequential mixed method food safety study

•Managers work as the role model and taking accountability is key to successful food safety.•Communication and self-awareness are essential for managers to ensure food safety.•Lack of retraining and decline progress in practice can represent a challenge in foodservice.•Business models that put speed over food safety often induce critical mistakes.•Monitor practices at work might be an important improvement to the current training programs.