Now that the streamers have been swept up, the champagne glasses cleaned and New Year’s college bowl games have all been watched, it’s time to look forward to the new year. Hopefully, every food handler will resolve to be diligent when it comes to food safety this year, but we have ten specific resolutions that are high on our priority list.
Image Credits: Dipankan001
1: Use your food thermometer in all situations. Hot held, chilled, or ready-to-serve, make sure all foods are kept out of the danger zone.
2: Wash all fruits and vegetable thoroughly before serving. Just because they can be served raw at room temperature doesn’t mean they haven’t come into contact with potential food-borne illness hazards.
3: Cool hot foods safely and as quick as possible. Cooling soups, roasts, and other hot foods properly is important. They need to get below dangerous temperatures as fast as possible.
4: Wash your hands. We don’t think that this can be emphasized enough. After handling raw food, changing your gloves, eating, smoking, or using the bathroom it’s vital that hands be washed for 20 seconds with plenty of soap and hot water.
5. Don’t work while sick. If you are sick, it’s quite possible to spread your illness to your customers. If you’re exhibiting symptoms of illness take time off, rest, and get better.
6: Make sure your refrigeration is working properly. Buy and install a thermometer for each unit in your facility. Sometimes the difference between 39 and 42 degrees is impossible to know using human senses, but bacteria will certainly know the difference.
7: Rotate your inventory properly. Don’t let old or expired foods make their way into your preparation areas. Make sure that all of your stock is labeled and rotated to ensure that potentially spoiled product is never served to your customers.
8: Make sure cloths are clean and free of contaminates. It’s no use cleaning your work space with a cleaning cloth that is soiled. This can have the adverse effects and even create hazards. Keep cleaning utensils clean!
9: Be diligent! Don’t ignore potential hazards with the excuse that you’ll “deal with it later.” Take care of them right away.
10: Promote food safety. Be an educator. Train each staff member the proper routine to ensure safe food handling for their station. A well-taught employee will be a diligent one.
We hope that every food handler that has completed food safety certification in MN will take these 10 resolutions to heart, and strive to make 2015 safe from food-borne illness.
