When owning your own restaurant the health and safety of customers should be at the top of your list of priorities. Whether small or large, proper sanitation and people's health should be the first thing you think about.
There is a good chance that you know of, or have even been to a restaurant that has suffered from health code issues. The repercussions of this can be immense. The most obvious and potentially devastating sign of poor food hygiene is sick customers. This of course is an unpleasant situation for customers and in the best case scenario, they will simply never return to your restaurant again. In the worst case scenario, they will sue!
A lot of restaurants who have been cited for health code issues have found that the recovery of reputation is a long and drawn out process, and many restaurants find that it's nearly impossible to get back on their feet. The best way to insure that you never have this problem as a restaurant professional is to make sure that the standards in your restaurant are high to start.
At the most basic level good food hygiene is a matter of cleanliness. Anyone who touches food should follow proper precautions and should be educated as to the necessary procedures involved in storing and handling food. Food areas should also be kept clean.
This is obvious, but food should always be thoroughly cooked. Regardless of whether food is being cooked or served to a customer, it should always be at the appropriate temperature- this will prevent bacteria from multiplying. Signs should be clearly posted to ensure that staff are aware of what the appropriate temperatures are.
Another big concern when it comes to restaurants and health code concerns is cross contamination. Food, especially meat, needs to be stored in a way that the juices don't drip on other foods, such as vegetables and other types of meat.
Soap and water running over hands should be an almost constant activity. It should be an impulse action! This is extremely important when achieving good food hygiene. Anyone who touches the food should know the safety procedures. Know that before and after you touch food, you should wash your hands with warm water and liquid soap, and when finished washing, your hands should be completely dried with a towel only for that purpose. Hand washing is the most important factor for good food hygiene and this should be remembered after using the bathroom, touching money, after breaks, or after, sneezing, itching, or blowing your nose.
You may think you are fairly knowledgeable on the topic of food safety, and while this may be true there is always something to be learned through consultation with an expert. There is a lot going on. You and your staff are no doubt constantly on the move. When trying to get a meal out in time it is not uncommon for learnt food safety practices to fly out the window. Small details that are overlooked may end up becoming large problems later on. Your business may end up in hot water not to mention the safety of your customers. Professional services exist and be called to examine your current procedures and offer suggestions on how to push your restaurant that extra mile! In a place such as Melbourne where news travels fast, knowledge that you and your customers are safe will enable you to focus on providing an enjoyable experience for all! - 15359
There is a good chance that you know of, or have even been to a restaurant that has suffered from health code issues. The repercussions of this can be immense. The most obvious and potentially devastating sign of poor food hygiene is sick customers. This of course is an unpleasant situation for customers and in the best case scenario, they will simply never return to your restaurant again. In the worst case scenario, they will sue!
A lot of restaurants who have been cited for health code issues have found that the recovery of reputation is a long and drawn out process, and many restaurants find that it's nearly impossible to get back on their feet. The best way to insure that you never have this problem as a restaurant professional is to make sure that the standards in your restaurant are high to start.
At the most basic level good food hygiene is a matter of cleanliness. Anyone who touches food should follow proper precautions and should be educated as to the necessary procedures involved in storing and handling food. Food areas should also be kept clean.
This is obvious, but food should always be thoroughly cooked. Regardless of whether food is being cooked or served to a customer, it should always be at the appropriate temperature- this will prevent bacteria from multiplying. Signs should be clearly posted to ensure that staff are aware of what the appropriate temperatures are.
Another big concern when it comes to restaurants and health code concerns is cross contamination. Food, especially meat, needs to be stored in a way that the juices don't drip on other foods, such as vegetables and other types of meat.
Soap and water running over hands should be an almost constant activity. It should be an impulse action! This is extremely important when achieving good food hygiene. Anyone who touches the food should know the safety procedures. Know that before and after you touch food, you should wash your hands with warm water and liquid soap, and when finished washing, your hands should be completely dried with a towel only for that purpose. Hand washing is the most important factor for good food hygiene and this should be remembered after using the bathroom, touching money, after breaks, or after, sneezing, itching, or blowing your nose.
You may think you are fairly knowledgeable on the topic of food safety, and while this may be true there is always something to be learned through consultation with an expert. There is a lot going on. You and your staff are no doubt constantly on the move. When trying to get a meal out in time it is not uncommon for learnt food safety practices to fly out the window. Small details that are overlooked may end up becoming large problems later on. Your business may end up in hot water not to mention the safety of your customers. Professional services exist and be called to examine your current procedures and offer suggestions on how to push your restaurant that extra mile! In a place such as Melbourne where news travels fast, knowledge that you and your customers are safe will enable you to focus on providing an enjoyable experience for all! - 15359
About the Author:
About the author: Malcolm J. Richmond stresses the need for quality food safety on his site where you can find information and advice to ensure that your restaurant's food hygiene meets the necessary standards.
