For many years, restaurants have played a major role in promoting healthy diets and lifestyle choices for millions of families around the world. But with the increasing demand to implement and maintain food safety standards, it has become mandatory for restaurants to continuously improve their food quality procedures not just to keep up with competition but also to promote safer food preparation. Here are the top 3 ways that restaurants can ensure their customer’s health and safety:
Provide regular training to employees regarding food safety
The key to ensuring that food is kept safe and sanitary for customers to enjoy is correct knowledge among restaurant employees. This includes the food production crew, food service staff and even employees whose work is not related to food or food handling. Inadequate training is one of the top 5 reasons why employees in the food service industry fail to meet food safety standards.
It is also important to educate restaurant staff and employees regarding the negative consequences of unhygienic food handling and food preparation within unsanitary premises. With proper training, employees become aware of what they are expected to do in order to perform their job well and keep their customers healthy and safe.
Make food safety a priority
Other than food taste, choice and presentation, another way that restaurants can promote food safety and customer’s health is to ensure that food safety becomes a primary concern of food workers. Currently, there are over 13 million workers employed by the restaurant and food service industry. Sadly, over 55% of illnesses that are caused by food can be traced to restaurants. In most cases, these incidents are caused by improper or erroneous food handling.
To encourage the implementation of food safety standards in restaurants, it would help if signs are put up in places such as the food preparation and food delivery areas, washrooms and toilets. These will serve as a reminder not just to restaurant employees but also to customers that a high standard of food safety practices is in place.
Use products that promote food safety
Another way that restaurants can promote customer health and food safety is by using facilities and equipment that are considered safe and hygienic. A few recommended products include:
Safety gloves – food handlers are required to wear safety gloves to keep food safe and prevent spoilage. Safety gloves serve a double purpose — they protect the servers hands and ensure that food contamination does not occur.
NSF food storage containers – NSF is the safety standard seal in the food industry. Products with this seal are considered food grade, safe for use in the kitchen and in the dining area and are hygienic.
Food dispensers – food dispensers are ideal for storage. They are air-tight and made with strong material that keep away contaminants such as dust, dirt, smoke, oil and bugs. They are also useful for cursory visual checks of food items for spoilage.
Sneezeguards – these are designed to prevent food contamination for displays and buffets. Made of clear, sturdy material such as glass or fiberglass, sneezegards provide ample visual of and access to the food and ensure that food is protected from foreign material.
Soap dispensers – are considered more hygienic than soap bars. Since users’ hands do not touch the soap itself, contamination is kept to a minimum.
Hand dryers – may either be push button or automatic. Hand dryers are a must in restaurants because they replace soiled, used towels. They are recommended both for food preparation areas and washrooms. In lieu of hand dryers, paper towels and paper towel dispensers may also be used.
Toilet seat covers and dispensers – bacteria from human waste such as E. coli and salmonella are notorious for contaminating food and jeopardizing food safety standards. By using disposable seat covers, restaurants can ensure that hygienic practices are in place.
Related posts:
