According to the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), there are four key risks you need to be aware of when running a food business. These are chemical, physical and microbiological risks and allergens. For the most part, you can avoid this risk easily by practicing good hygiene practices.
The issue of hygiene is not a new challenge in the food and beverage industry and we recommend that you read more about how it can affect your business. It is important to note that practicing proper hygiene in your food business is the key to a safe product. Cross -contamination is likely to occur even in unclean workplaces. This can cause illness and endanger your business.
Food poisoning
When running a food -related business, one of the main efforts you need to focus on is the prevention of food poisoning cases. An individual can represent any food consumption within two or three days. Therefore, it is easy to determine when they may have contaminated food. Therefore, keeping records of the processing, preparation, storage, packaging, cooking and serving of any food can be an excellent practice.
In the event of a food poisoning incident, these records can help you identify the root cause quickly. Using these records can also help determine if there is a need to change practices when handling food.
However, such a long and costly incident can be avoided. Let the following hygiene tips be your guide to maintaining a good reputation in your food business:
Provide staff training on best hygiene practices
Good hygiene practices must start with your team members. Therefore, it is important to make sure you give them the information they need to help maintain this practice. You can start by reminding them about proper hand washing and personal care at work as well as at home.
As the need to maintain high standards of hygiene is increasing, it is important to follow up on why they need to maintain them. In addition, you can also tell them the consequences of poor hygiene. For example, during training on self -care, you can mention that untreated hair can end up with food. Customers can easily sue the organization for damages for such avoidable accidents.
Overall, team members can be key to preventing the four risks from affecting business operations.
Ensure proper handling and storage of food
Different foods require different storage conditions and temperatures. Therefore, it is important to establish and follow the conservation and handling requirements of each food from receipt to production. For example, the storage temperature for vegetables is different from the temperature for frozen meat. While it may be necessary to store meat in the refrigerator, vegetables can be stored in the refrigerator.
Similarly, prepare a clean and disinfected surface when processing or preparing different food products. Ask your staff to wear disposable hygiene gloves when handling food. If you are handling raw and ready -to -eat foods, you should also store them separately.
By following this practice, you can avoid cases of cross -contamination as this can happen even if you store food with a strong odor in the same place as other foods. The same thing happens if you use the same preparation surface or container.
Clean and disinfect surfaces
Any surface in contact with food must always be clean. However, the cleaning process should not end with rubbing and rinsing. Due to the danger of microbiological hazards, it is necessary to ensure that these surfaces are constantly disinfected.
The frequency with which food surfaces are cleaned may depend on usage or time. For example, clean the reception area after each reception process. This ensures that the next food you receive is not on an unclean surface, which can lead to cross -contamination. In addition, food preparation areas should follow the same rules as well. You can have a daily schedule for floors and walls. However, it is best to clean up any debris or liquids in this area immediately.
In addition, you should also provide a disinfection area around the premises. This is a place where staff can easily access the disinfectant during their daily activities.
Wash your hands often
Since it is the part of the body that is in constant contact with food, you should make sure your hands are always clean. Wash your hands:
- After each visit to the toilet
- Every time you enter the food preparation area
- After handling raw foods
- Before starting the preparation of any food
- After sneezing or coughing
- When switching from one food to another
To prevent staff skipping this practice because the laundry area is far from its place, you can provide one near each station.
Conclusion
When adequate hygiene standards are maintained, cases of cross -contamination or food poisoning can be reduced or eliminated. This involves preventing any of the four dangers from occurring. With the tips outlined here, you can ensure your food business practices and maintains good hygiene standards at all times.