The global pandemic Covid-19 has put food safety and restaurant health under the microscope. The obligations to staff and customers are magnified as many restaurants try to adapt to the global crisis by shifting to a delivery service model or limiting seating capacity.
While food health and safety regulations have not changed at all since the crisis began, restaurants are expected to be transparent with customers and adhere to strict health standards.
This means, at a minimum, that you must follow the food safety and health regulations in your area. The best way to achieve this is with these pro tips:
1. Consider product traceability
Whether you’re a food safety manager or supervisor, you must ensure your business has an effective product traceability system.
For example, you can develop a Meat traceability system to increase transparency to clients and update recalls, which can cause upheaval in your own facility.
2. Disinfect surfaces
It is essential to your health and food safety routine to clean and sanitize all surfaces in your restaurant, including cutting boards, storage areas, floor drains, trash cans, equipment and prep areas.
This process helps remove invisible bacteria, dirt and food debris from surfaces that may come into contact with food.
Disinfecting and cleaning surfaces regularly can also prevent pest infestation. Pests are capable of spreading dangerous diseases such as listeria and salmonella into food in the kitchen.
Having a good cleaning checklist is the best way to achieve this. This will ensure that you implement procedures for employees to follow on a monthly, weekly or daily basis.
3. Train employees and lead by example
While the law does not require you to train employees or receive HACCP training, a food safety inspection agency can hold you accountable to these standards. Communicating the need for food safety regulations in a restaurant can be more difficult if you are not well trained.
If you’ve never had access to proper training, it’s a good idea to take a class or book a day with an instructor. Getting involved with your team will ensure you build team spirit.
4. Encourage workers to keep their hands clean
The need for proper hand washing has been ingrained in people’s minds for years. Washing your hands doesn’t just help you avoid getting Covid-19. Even before the pandemic hit, people were still in the habit of washing their hands.
So even with the introduction of a Covid-19 vaccine, this should not change. Your staff must remember to wash their hands with plenty of water and soap for 30 seconds or so. This could be when they use chemicals, eat, smoke, drink, sneeze, clear a table, go to the bathroom, or touch a dirty apron.
Bottom line!
A thorough sanitization and food safety program is very important in establishments such as restaurants. It determines that the regulations set by the FDA and other government agencies are followed by the latter.
It also reassures the consumer or customer that with all your food, they should not have to worry about the type of service or product quality delivered.
Articles Submitted by Community Writers
