At Safe Food Training, our ultimate goal is to educate for food safety managers on current food safety regulations, and sometimes that includes discussing current restrictions put on foodservice businesses during these trying times. It’s not our goal to provide commentary on these rules and government actions, but it’s vital to discuss these issues to keep food businesses open and operating under current conditions. In response to outbreaks of Corona Virus linked to food establishments, Governor Tim Walz indicated that bars, restaurants and other food-related businesses would be shut down for failure to adhere to COVID-19 dining restrictions. This week, we’ll take a look at how food safety mangers can comply with Stay Safe MN regulations to avoid potential closure.
How Food Safety Managers Keep Food Businesses Open During Stay Safe MN
The ability to track Covid-19 infections and outbreaks has greatly increased over the past few months, and one thing the data shows is that food establishments, bars and clubs, in particular, have the potential to be spreader locations for the disease. It’s not just an isolated incident at a few bars in Minneapolis or even in our own state. The governors of Texas and Florida have chosen to close bars completely and scale back restrictions on dining, and Arizona eating establishments are facing more restrictions due to the spread of the Corona Virus. Due to the range of rules in place and differing philosophies of the governing bodies of states showing an increase in infection rates, this may not be a trend based on any one initial response to the controlling the virus.
Since this seems to be a widespread response to the epidemic, how can food safety managers balance keeping their guests safe, generating revenue and remaining open?
The prudent thing to do to keep your doors open during these times is to adhere to regulations. An attitude of compliance throughout the food industry may give governing authorities the sense that the foodservice industry is dedicated to beating COVID-19 and they’ll come to tout food safety managers and eateries as allies rather than businesses that need further monitoring and enforcement. Whether closed due to further outbreaks or noncompliance, a shuttered establishment brings in no revenue, so we should do our part to keep food businesses open.
Our hope is that these Stay Safe MN rules and regulations are based on the best science available, and at this time we have to trust that these limitations will lead us to days where we can see our local foodservice industry flourish and be a vibrant part of Minnesota communities.https://minnesota.safefoodtraining.com/?p=2190