Food Safety Blog and CFPM Resource Hub

February 6, 2018February 8, 2018

ServSafe Manager Certification and Protection from Food Tampering

Most of the food-borne illness threats that we look at usually come from inadvertent contamination due to either a lack of training, negligence or an infected food source, but the threat of intentional contamination exists and steps should be taken to prevent this kind of scenario.

Food Terrorism and ServSafe Manager Certification

Few ServSafe manager certification courses cover the prevention of intentional food tampering, but according to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), certain food production facilities must take steps to prevent hazards from being intentionally introduced into the food production process that could cause wide-spread effects.

In a recent interview, advisors from the FDA’s Food Defense and Emergency Coordination staff provided some insight into the rule and how to keep food safe.

One key component of this rule is the identification and protection of areas of vulnerability. The article discusses open storage containers and mixing vats as potential targets for someone trying to tamper with your food. Other vulnerable sites in food production facilities could include outdoor gardens, unattended receiving areas or unsupervised areas of the kitchen after hours.

Food defense has long been voluntary, and many facilities do have safety standards in place to prevent malicious tampering with their product. The food defense requirement of the FSMA for large businesses takes effect July 26, 2019 and July 26, 2020 for small businesses with under 500 employees. Very small businesses may be exempt from these rules, but they must provide documentation that they are exempt by July of 2021.

Thankfully, the chances of an intentional food-poisoning outbreak are miniscule whether on a mass scale or at a smaller level. Do you do anything to prevent tampering with the product you prepare and serve at your facility?

January 29, 2018February 12, 2018

Customized Food Handling Training Courses

The food service industry is unique in the fact that many different types of businesses fall under the food service umbrella. The training needs of a restaurant defer from the certification requirements of school cafeteria and food processing outlets may have specialized protocols for food handling training. Since many different types of facilities exist, why should the same food handling training be given to the employees of different types of food service businesses?

There are many benefits to providing customized food safety training for your employees.

Training can be tailored to your type of business
Training can occur on-site at your facility
The appropriate certification test for your facility can be given
Training can occur on your time

One of the greatest advantages to arranging a customized training session is that the food handling requirements of your staff’s day-to-day routine can be addressed. It’s even more advantageous when the training occurs at your facility so that your instructor can see exactly how food safety procedures will be implemented.

With customized training, you don’t have to wait for the next ServSafe, HACCP or any other certification class and exam. You can request specifically the certification that you require, and you can work with the instructor to perform the training at a time that works for you and your staff.

At Safe Food Training, we can gladly work with you to design a course that will meet your certification requirements and help keep your food safe. We also offer online and regularly schedule training classes and certification examinations. Would a customizable food training course work for your business?

January 23, 2018February 12, 2018

Food Safety Certification Smartphone Training Apps

Every day, the modern smartphone becomes more and more ingrained into our daily routine. Nearly everyone has one, and it is one device that never seems to be too far out of reach day and night. That got us thinking about what a smartphone can do to improve food safety not only in the food service industry but wherever we go.

Food Safety Certification Training on Mobile Devices

A quick search for food safety apps on your device’s app store will reveal that there are a plethora of food handling apps that range from at food safety tips to food safety certification preparation, study guides and practice tests. Many of these apps are free to download, while some from more official sources require a small amount of money to acquire. With this information literally at your fingertips, you can quickly find the answers or resources whenever you have a food safety question or would like to take a quick refresher course.

Before you dive head first into any food safety app, it is important to note that these apps may not be endorsed by your local health department. While they can be a valuable resource, you should be double checking any questionable material with your official food certification training guides or the Minnesota Food Code.

We’ve been having fun checking out some of these mobile resources. We can only wonder what the future of technology and food service training holds. Hopefully VR and robotic food certification instruction is far off into the future and we hang on to our need of human interaction, at least for a little while.

Do you have any apps that have helped you keep on top of food safety or make any aspect of your business easier?

January 16, 2018January 5, 2018

Making the Best Use of Downtime and Food Safety Training

The winter months bring with them a significant amount of downtime for food industry professionals. Some outlets use this time for maintenance projects, menu overhauls, kitchen upgrades or performing deep-cleaning tasks. These efforts go a long way to making your facility better, but we also feel that downtime can be used to update and review food safety training.

Food Safety Training During Slow Business Hours

Most food production facilities should keep food safety training materials on-site for reference or training new employees. The slow weeks at the beginning of the year offer a perfect opportunity for reviewing these materials and making sure that are up to date and reflect the current Minnesota Food Code.

This time of year also grants you the time to allow your staff review these procedures while at work and on the clock. Allocating training time while your staff is on the job will motivate them to actually review the material. If you assign homework to your kitchen staff and ask them to review training materials off of the clock, they may not be motivated to take their review seriously. Granting them access to the materials at work and allow them to get paid for their efforts will ensure that they see that you take their time seriously.

After you and your staff review food safety protocols, it may be a good idea to perform a self-inspection in your kitchen. Involve the entire staff in this process. Different employees have different responsibilities, and they may have ideas that can make your kitchen a safer place. Your line cooks may see aspects of the production line that you don’t see every day and your wait staff can help inspect the front of the house and inform you of any potential hazards they may see.

At Safe Food Training, we feel that involving your entire staff in this review and self-inspection process results in keeping your product as safe as it can be. Do you have any other unique procedures during the slow months of the year?