Temperature Checks: Safeguarding Your Foodservice Business with Every Delivery

There is no mistake that for those of us in the Midwest, and much of the US, we are in the middle of summer, when the temperatures swell to the high-90s and low-100s. Along with the sweltering heat, comes a reminder about the importance of keeping cold food cold in our operations.  Especially as we look at those deliveries that are coming into our operations each week. This receiving process might seem like a routine task, but it plays a vital role in preventing foodborne illnesses and ensuring the overall quality of food served to customers.

Upon receiving a cold food delivery, it is essential to inspect the temperature of each product. Use a calibrated food thermometer to measure the temperature of items such as dairy, meat, poultry, and seafood. Cold foods should be maintained at or below 41°F (5°C) to prevent growth of pathogens. If any items are above this temperature, they should be rejected to avoid potential contamination.

Not only should you be sure your staff check the temperature of the food as it arrives, but they should do so in the proper manner, so it is not contaminated in the process.

  • For meat, fish, and poultry, the probe of the thermometer should be inserted directly into the thickest part of the food. For many products, but not all, this usually means the center.
  • Live shellfish can be received at an air temperature of 45°F (7°C) and an internal temperature no greater than 50°F (10°C). But it should be cooled to 41°F (5°C) or below within four hours of receiving.
  • For any vacuum-packed food or food that is packaged using modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), the thermometer should be inserted between the two packages, or if the package will allow it, it can be folded around the thermometer probe. For some items, for example, bacon that may have two vacuum sealed packaged per box, staff will need to open the case in order to take the temperature properly. Be sure not to puncture the package while taking the temperature.
  • Milk and eggs can be received at an air temperature of 45°F (7°C) or lower, but just like shellfish, should be refrigerated at or below 41°F (5°C) upon receiving.
  • Frozen foods should all be frozen solid. Look for signs of thawing and refreezing, such as ice crystals in the box, fluids or water stains on the case, or frozen liquids on or in the packages.

If the food you are receiving does not meet the above criteria, reject it and send it back.  Make sure staff who inspect these items are empowered to do so.  Rejecting any delivery can leave your operation short on supplies; however, be sure the employee who rejects a delivery is not blamed by staff for being the cause of the problem.  Remember, if you have a true food safety culture, nothing is so important that it cannot be done safely.

… when food is delivered at the correct temperature, not only does it ensure a safe project, it preserves its taste, texture, and nutritional value.   

Temperature checks also help maintain the quality of the food. When food is delivered at the correct temperature, not only does it ensure a safe project, it preserves its taste, texture, and nutritional value. For instance, if ice cream is delivered above freezing temperature, it may refreeze in the freezer, resulting in an undesirable texture. Similarly, meat and poultry products that are not kept at the right temperature leads to waste and loss of profit. Ensuring that food is delivered at the correct temperature helps maintain the quality and extends the shelf life of the products.

When customers trust that a restaurant or foodservice operation prioritizes safety and quality, they are more likely to return and recommend the establishment to others. Regular temperature checks of deliveries help build this trust, as customers can be confident they are consuming safe and high-quality food.  This simple yet effective step can prevent foodborne illnesses, reduce waste, minimize financial losses, and enhance customer satisfaction.   Risk Nothing. 

 

Foodborne Illness Myths & Facts

“It must have been something I ate.”  That’s the typical statement when a person develops some relatively minor symptoms from food.  Maybe not severe enough to go to the doctor so you choose to tough it out without medical care.  Sudden onset of flu-like symptoms such as onset of stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and fever could possibly mean you are the victim of a foodborne illness.   The illness is sometimes referred to as “food poisoning”, but it’s often misdiagnosed.

Don’t Compromise: Clean and Sanitize

The subject is cleaning and sanitizing. Chefs, food service directors, managers and staff try to practice safe food-handling at every turn in the kitchen. Don’t let that effort go down the drain by slacking off on the many aspects of sanitation. That includes dish and ware-washing techniques (pots, pans, equipment), and cleaning all the areas that give us that “neat as a pin” appearance in your customers eyes. Customers seldom fail to bring that soiled silverware or glass with lipstick on it to the attention of the manager or wait staff. Improperly cleaning and sanitizing of food contact equipment does allow transmission of pathogenic microorganisms to food and ultimately our customer.

The Route to Safer Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Although fruits and vegetables are one of the healthiest foods sources in our diet, we continue to have foodborne disease outbreaks of significance from produce, sometimes affecting large groups of people in multiple states because of their wide distribution. The CDC estimates that fresh produce now causes a huge number of foodborne illness outbreaks in the United States. Produce needs our continued food safety efforts at the restaurant level as well as at the stages in agricultural production. Occasionally, fresh fruits and vegetables can become contaminated with harmful bacteria or viruses, such as Salmonella, E. coli 0157:H7, Norovirus, and Hepatitis A. This contamination can occur at any point from the field to our table. If eaten, contaminated fruits and vegetables can cause foodborne illness.

Be Cool, Chill Out, Refrigerate Promptly!

The Cold Chain -- Keeping perishable foods at proper cold holding temperatures (between 28°F and 41°F maximum or 0°F for frozen food) from your food producers / manufacturers to your customers has to be one of our strongest links to safe food and high quality.   Sometimes that is referred to in the food industry as “maintaining the COLD CHAIN”.  Any slip ups in the cold chain, and we have a weak link.  Most all of our state food regulations require 41°F as a cold maximum, but colder is a “best practice” policy to maintain.