Safe Food Handling Cues – Part 1

Ensuring hygiene at every step 

Intro

Food, if handled properly, can be safe. Following simple guidelines can altogether mitigate the risk element in food 

With food safety being a priority issue Foodism brings to you quick tips applicable at both work and home environments to ensure that the food being served at the dining table is safe and hygienic.

Need for following proper safe food handling procedures

Food safety should be a priority for all – home chefs as well as food business operators. In case of the latter, law demands adherence to food safety for which necessary hygiene training in line with their work needs to be provided to the entire team.

There should be a zero tolerance policy for food safety error at any stage of food handling - preparation, processing, packaging, storage, transportation or offering it for sale.  Safe food protects –

• People from getting sick
• Your businesses reputation
• Your job

General safe food handling tips

• Never wipe your hands on your clothing as this can easily transfer microbes and bacteria
• Use paper towels to clean up during food preparation and serving
• Change gloves, utensils and dishes when changing functions
• Never run around in food production or service areas
• Try to have just one person serve food that is about to be eaten
• Prepare precooked frozen foods in line with the directions/instructions on the packaging state
• Have foods ready not any longer than necessary before serving time
• Prepare and cook only as much food as you intend to use
• Wash and sanitize any tools or utensils which fall on the floor
• Do not taste foods with any utensil used either to mix or stir food
• Pick up and hold all tableware by the handles
• Store tableware away from dust
• Be careful when lifting lids from hot food
• Turn handles of saucepans away from the front of the stove when cooking
• Always try to handle any food items that are about to be eaten, with a utensil (i.e. tongs) rather than your bare hands

Hand washing

Although it is now that the pandemic has brought to the fore the mandate for maintaining hand hygiene; but so far as the kitchen environment is considered the same was in place since time immemorial. The reason being bacteria spreads from the food we touch to door handles, plates, cutlery and so on in a jiffy; hence hand washing is one of the best ways to arrest the spread of germs.

Hand washing tips 

• Prefer a soap dispenser over a bar of soap
• Wash in a sink that has hot and cold running water
• Wash in a sink that is separate from the one that is used to wash foodstuff and utensils
• Dry your hands with paper towels

A good question to ask here is when to wash your hands. Well ensure that you wash your hands after:

• Starting work
• Using the toilet
• Handling raw and cooked foods
• Taking breaks
• Eating
• Drinking
• Smoking
• Coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose
• Touching your hair
• Playing with pets or handling animals
• Scratching
• Handling refuse or waste materials
• Handling cleaning chemicals

The proper procedure for washing your hands

• Wet your hands
• Rub your hands and wrists with soap
• Lather the soap for 20 seconds
• Rinse thoroughly
• Dry with paper towels or a hot air dryer (remember that wet hands can carry and transfer more germs than dry ones)
• Turn off the taps with your elbows (if possible) or use a paper towel to do so

Gloves

Gloves play a pivotal role in minimizing bare hand contact with any cooked and ready-to-eat foods. They protect the food, the consumer and the worker - because they can be used to cover damaged skin or protect hands from the risk of developing skin conditions

Things to keep in mind while using gloves

• Replace gloves after each task
• Thoroughly wash and dry your hands before putting on gloves
• Always use single use fresh gloves
• Throw away plastic gloves after one use
• Do not use a punctured glove as it can lead to glove material ending up in in food
• Gloves must only be used for one particular task

When should food workers change gloves

• At least once every hour
• If they become contaminated
• If they tear
• When switching between handling raw and ready-to-eat foods
• When changing tasks
• After mopping, taking waste out, sweeping and cleaning

Safety cues for handling dishes, crockery and cutlery

• Avoid touching any part of a dish or plate which may come into contact with a person’s food or mouth
• Pick up cups and mugs by their handles – ensure that your fingers are outside the cups
• Place teaspoons in such a way that they protrude from a dish
• Pull out disposable cups from the base of the tube this prevents your fingers from going inside the cup
• Do not use cracked or chipped plates

Clothes

Refrain from wearing outdoor clothes in the food preparation area; instead opt for clean and washable protective clothing

What must you wear…

• A clean apron
• Gloves
• Hairnet
• Closed-in shoes to protect your feet, in case of hot spills or breakages
• Shoes with slip-resistant soles, to prevent you from slipping on hot spillages et al

Some critical don’ts 

Do not –

• Wipe your hands on your apron
• Cook in loose-fitting clothes
• Work in the kitchen in soiled clothing

Personal hygiene

Food service workers need to maintain a high level of personal cleanliness when receiving, storing, cooking, processing, packaging, transporting or disposing of food.

Some basic tips to follow 

• Keep fingers away from your face, mouth, hair, skin and other parts of the body
• Avoid brushing or combing your hair when you are near food
• Frequently wash your hands
• Never smoke in food areas
• Do not handle food with bare hands
• Do not eat or chew gum in food handling areas
• Don’t cough, sneeze, spit or smoke near food and avoid touching your nose, teeth and ears, or scratching when handling food
• Do not use fingers to taste food – always use a clean spoon

A few simple steps can go a long way in ensuring safe food. In August Foodism will share cues for safe handling of kitchen tools and appliances in the second and concluding part of this story. Until then…keep watching this space and stay safe!