Food Handlers

Hand sinks: Often Taken for Granted, but an Essential Part to Effective Hand Hygiene

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Hand sinks: Often Taken for Granted, but an Essential Part to Effective Hand Hygiene

Food Safety Experts2023-02-14T15:42:27+00:00

Late in January, I received a question about hand sinks in a foodservice operation. The question pertained to school staff (teachers and aides) who were using a hand washing sink in the school kitchen. The question came as a matter of who was allowed access to the kitchen to use the sink, but the question itself caused me to go down a rabbit hole of requirements for hand washing sinks in foodservice operations.

Hand sinks: Often Taken for Granted, but an Essential Part to Effective Hand HygieneFood Safety Experts2023-02-14T15:42:27+00:00

Hot off the Press: The 2022 Model Food Code has been Released! Part Two.

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Hot off the Press: The 2022 Model Food Code has been Released! Part Two.

Food Safety Experts2023-01-09T22:00:16+00:00

Earlier in the month, we started a discussion about the changes to the 2022 Food Code. If you missed that post, late in December 2022, the Food and Drug Administration released the 2022 Food Code and I wanted to highlight a few of the changes that have been made to the code.

Hot off the Press: The 2022 Model Food Code has been Released! Part Two.Food Safety Experts2023-01-09T22:00:16+00:00

Hot off the Press: The 2022 Model Food Code has been Released! Part One.

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Hot off the Press: The 2022 Model Food Code has been Released! Part One.

Food Safety Experts2023-01-09T21:57:28+00:00

It has finally arrived! Yes, the new year has arrived – but I was not referring to it. I was referring to the new 2022 Model Food Code (10th edition) that has been released by the Food and Drug Administration. I thought I might take this blog and the next blog to discuss some of the changes that have been made to the Food Code that you might see coming your way in the next few years.

Hot off the Press: The 2022 Model Food Code has been Released! Part One.Food Safety Experts2023-01-09T21:57:28+00:00

Exclusion and Restrictions: Understanding Employee Health and the Food Code

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Exclusion and Restrictions: Understanding Employee Health and the Food Code

Food Safety Experts2022-12-12T18:58:53+00:00

I received a call earlier in the month from a foodservice operator who suspected that one of their employees may have fallen ill and wondered if they had to send the employee home for the day. Once I started to ask a few more questions, it became obvious that the operator wasn’t really in-tune with the food code requirements on restrictions or exclusions for employees who may not be feeling well. Given that most operations are dealing with staff shortages currently and the fact that we are about to head into the fall and winter – when we tend to see an increase in upper respiratory and other illnesses, such as the flu - it seemed like a very timely and important topic for the blog this month.

Exclusion and Restrictions: Understanding Employee Health and the Food CodeFood Safety Experts2022-12-12T18:58:53+00:00

Welcome to National Food Safety Education Month!

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Welcome to National Food Safety Education Month!

Food Safety Experts2022-09-09T16:19:51+00:00

In September of each year, we not only have the opportunity to celebrate Labor Day, but we also welcome National Food Safety Education Month! It is this time of the year when it is important to remember that Foodborne illnesses are still a major concern in the United States, although I am guessing many Americans don’t think about the safety of the food they eat as they go throughout their daily lives. The statistics show one in every six Americans will suffer from a foodborne illness each year, for a total of about 48 million cases each year.

Welcome to National Food Safety Education Month!Food Safety Experts2022-09-09T16:19:51+00:00

Protecting Fresh Produce Post-Harvest, Integral to Safe Food

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Protecting Fresh Produce Post-Harvest, Integral to Safe Food

Food Safety Experts2022-08-09T19:45:28+00:00

During the height of the summer, at least in the Midwest, farmers markets are in full swing and fresh produce is plentiful. Every backyard gardener is reaping the benefits of their work, with bountiful harvests of tomatoes and cucumbers. Everyone seems to have a neighbor who is trying to pawn off his or her over-production of cucumbers or summer squash during this time of year. When picking up that produce at the farmer’s market or from your neighbor down the street, have you ever given any thought to the microbial safety of it? Honestly, even in my position, it certainly is NOT the first thing that comes to my mind. But, earlier this month, I came across a news story out of Wisconsin discussing a Salmonella outbreak associated with shelled peas sold at a local farmers market. Who would have thought shelled peas would be impacted? The story noted, and it served as a great reminder, that most outbreaks associated with Salmonella in produce are due to mistakes made in handling or transportation of produce after harvesting.

Protecting Fresh Produce Post-Harvest, Integral to Safe FoodFood Safety Experts2022-08-09T19:45:28+00:00

Sanitation, Sanitation, Where Art Thou?

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Sanitation, Sanitation, Where Art Thou?

Food Safety Experts2022-05-09T13:04:09+00:00

Continuing the theme I picked up on a few months ago, discussing common causes of foodborne illness, I’d like to focus this blog on cross contamination, more precisely sanitation. Sanitation is another issue that employees don’t often do at home, so they discount the importance of it in the food production environment. That is to say that they have never made someone sick at home because they only clean their countertops and they have likely never sanitized their kitchen, so why is it so important in a foodservice facility?

Sanitation, Sanitation, Where Art Thou?Food Safety Experts2022-05-09T13:04:09+00:00

Handwashing: The Habit that Isn’t as Common as We May Think

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Handwashing: The Habit that Isn’t as Common as We May Think

Food Safety Experts2022-05-09T13:04:39+00:00

Earlier this year, I started to focus our FoodHandler Food Safety blogs on common food safety issues faced in each foodservice operation across the world. We’ve covered some of the most common issues, but perhaps none is more common than improper hand hygiene.

Handwashing: The Habit that Isn’t as Common as We May ThinkFood Safety Experts2022-05-09T13:04:39+00:00