Don’t forget the basics of Food Handling

COVID-19 is a major new occurrence we as food service professionals must deal with but, do not forget about the food safety basics.

Everyone is excited about opening up and everyone across the country has slightly different rules to be able to open up.  List of all State Health Departments check with your local Health Department for the details in your area.

Do not get distracted by all the new COVID requirements that have been put on your food service operation.  It would be wise to assign all the “normal food safety” things to one manager and have another manager deal with COVID requirements. These will not doubt overlap in some places but things like

• Rotating product
• Proper Handwashing – ACE Food Handler – Handwashing

ACE Food Handler Handwashing Chart

• Proper cooking temperatures

Food Storage Chart and Cooking Temperatures

• Proper holding temperatures
• Cross-contamination
• Daily and Weekly cleaning check lists
• Proper Ordering (did your menu change?)
• Walk-in Cooler Temps
• Reach-in Cooler Temps
• Freezer Temps
• Proper Sanitizer Concentration

The list is vitally important, and you don’t want to lose focus on either of these vital requirements.

And with those new COVID requirements. Have you considered

• Removing some tables and chairs (maybe you landlord has an empty space you can store them in temporarily)
• Changing AC filters
• Social distancing directions on the floor in the form of stickers or mats or cones or????
• Can you create some patio tables outside somewhere?
• Will you be providing mask (where required) for your food handlers?
• What kind of personal masks will you allow?
• Hand sanitizer
  • Do you have enough
  • Will you supply it to your guests?
  • Are you required to supply it to your guests?
• Do you have mask and glove procedures in place?
  • How to put them on and how to take them off
• Procedures for sanitizing high touch surfaces
  • A checklist for when this was completed
• Menus –
  • disposable
  • procedures for sanitizing reusable menus
  • digital menu boards

ACE Food Handler is here to help if you need help and out sister Company ACE Restaurant Academy will soon have online training lessons for managers and shift leaders. If you need help with anything restaurant related and/or need some custom training videos or Power Point Presentations for your managers and/or crew, please reach out to ACE Food Handler.

ACE Food Handler is a Nationwide Provider of Food Handling Cards and Alcohol Seller/Server Training.  We have affordable options for individuals and Corporate Pricing also.

Stay safe and thanks for all you do.