Let’s shift our focus to the new year after cleaning the champagne glasses, wrapping up the college bowl games of New Year’s, and sweeping up the streamers. Hopefully, every certified food manager will resolve to be diligent regarding safety this year, but we have ten specific resolutions that are high on our priority list.
Specific Resolutions for Certified Food Managers
1: Use your food thermometer in all situations. To ensure that all foods remain safe for consumption, it is important to keep them out of the danger zone regardless of whether they are hot-held, chilled, or ready-to-serve.
2: Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before serving. Potential food-borne illness hazards can still affect raw and room temperature-served foods.
3: Cool hot foods safely and as quickly as possible. Cooling soups, roasts, and other hot foods properly is essential. They need to get below dangerous temperatures as fast as possible.
4: Wash your hands. It is crucial to emphasize that after handling raw food, changing gloves, eating, smoking, or using the bathroom, you must wash your hands for 20 seconds with plenty of soap and hot water.
5. Don’t work while sick. If you are sick, it’s possible to spread your illness to your customers. If you’re exhibiting disease symptoms, take time off, rest, and get better.
6: Make sure your refrigeration is working correctly. Buy and install a thermometer for each unit in your facility. Sometimes, the difference between 39 and 42 degrees is impossible to determine using human senses, but bacteria will undoubtedly know the difference.
7: Rotate your inventory correctly. Don’t let old or expired foods make their way into your preparation areas. Ensure all your stock is labeled and rotated to ensure that potentially spoiled product is never served to your customers.
But Wait There’s More!
8: Make sure cloths are clean and free of contaminants. It’s no use cleaning your workspace with a soiled cleaning cloth. This can have adverse effects and even create hazards. Keep cleaning utensils clean!
9: Be diligent! Don’t ignore potential hazards with the excuse that you’ll “deal with it later.” Take care of them right away.
10: Promote food safety. Be an educator. Train each staff member on the proper routine to ensure safe food handling for their station. A well-taught employee will be a diligent one.
We hope every certified food manager who has completed food safety certification in MN will take these ten resolutions to heart, and strive to make 2024 safe from food-borne illness.
