Common Health Code Violations That Restaurants Could Face, And How To Avoid Them

Operating a restaurant is not as easy as you think. There are so many rules and regulations to be followed, and top most of all these are healthy and safety regulations, since restaurants are always dealing with food preparation and serving. Because of this, restaurant owners must be vigilant about the cleanliness and hygiene aspects of their staff as well as the premises and equipment, since food could easily get contaminated resulting in grave consequences and even closure at times.

For this reason, restauranteurs must ensure that their staff are properly trained in maintaining high standard of cleanliness and sanitation within the premises, as well as themselves, by providing staff with uniforms etc. Uniforms, especially such items as chef aprons and chef hats can prevent cross contamination of food, ensuring that they observe the highest possible standard when it comes to food preparation. However, in addition to clothing and cleanliness, there are many more aspects of restaurant operations that will fall under the purview of a health inspector, and it is the duty of both the management and staff to ensure that they adhere to these strict regulations.

So, what are some of the most common health code violations that restaurants face, and how can they avoid these?

• Time and temperature – Time and temperature both play a vital role in keeping food fresh and safe. Different types of food should be stored under different temperatures, and for specific periods of time. Hence it is essential for all staff to be extra vigilant regarding these and to have good training on the right temperatures to store different food items. In the food preparation industry, there is a temperature danger zone, which is between 40^o F and 140^o F which is considered as the temperature in which bacteria grows. Hence when food is kept within this range for longer periods, the greater the chances that they may be unfit to be consumed. According to competent authorities, it is recommended that cold food not be kept at room temperature for more than two hours, and hot food for more than one hour. After this time there is a high likelihood that the food will be unsafe to eat.

Some ways to prevent your kitchen food entering this danger zone are to keep hot food at high temperatures of 140^o F or above, by keeping them in chafing dishes, warming trays or slow cookers. Cold food should be kept below 40^o F by storing them in containers and keeping them in ice. When reheating food or even defrosting, it should be done thoroughly and the internal temperature of the food checked. A temperature log book should always be maintained, and thermometers checked regularly for accuracy.

• Food storage – Cross contamination of food can occur from poor storage habits. For example, cooked meats and raw meats should never be stored together, and food should be stored in proper air tight, labelled containers.

Proper care should be taken to store food at all times, and sufficient training given to staff on the same. Vegetables and fruits, cooked meats, raw meat etc should be stored in proper packaging or containers and on different levels or shelves, from top to bottom in the following order: raw vegetables, cooked vegetables, cooked meat, cooked seafood, raw seafood, raw beef, raw pork, raw chicken. Daily inspections should be carried out by the staff to ensure that proper storage methods are being followed.

• Cross contamination – Bacteria can easily be transferred from one food item to another through mishandling. Touching one type of food such as meat, and then touching another type of food such as a vegetable, prior to cleaning the hands properly can contaminate food.

All staff who handle food should be given extensive training on food safety and handling. In addition, it is also recommended that kitchens use different colored cutting boards and knives for different food items, so that there is absolutely no chance of cross contamination of food. Proper hygiene methods and standards such as washing of hands should be strictly enforced and adhered to by everyone.

• Personal hygiene – The importance of personal hygiene when it comes to those working in the food preparation industry can’t be stressed enough. Our bodies can carry around a large number of bacteria which is why restaurant kitchen staff should always shower before staring work as well as at the end of their work shift. Cross contamination of food can occur from clothing as well, since bacteria, fur, dirt and dust can transfer from clothing which has been worn outside, onto the food being prepared. In addition to these, bacteria could also transfer from hair, nails, skin etc encompassing the need for strict personal hygiene standards.

Uniforms should be provided for all staff working in a kitchen, so that they won’t need to wear there outside clothing while preparing food. Certain parts of the uniform such as chef hats, keep sweat and hair from contaminating food, and chef aprons will also be useful in maintaining a sanitary environment. Staff should be made to cut their hair short, or tie it back, keep their nails, fingers and hands clean at all times, and to maintain proper personal hygiene. Antibacterial soap should be kept available for them to use when needed, and should be refilled regularly.

• Chemical use and storage – There is no doubt that chemicals are needed to keep the kitchen area clean and sanitized. Staff should be given proper training on how to use such chemicals and the best methods used for cleaning so that they maintain a very sanitized working environment, and are aware of the dangers that the chemicals offer.

Those who supply cleaning chemicals can provide good training for restaurant staff, and these should be done on a regular basis. In addition, staff should be trained in how to protect themselves when using such chemicals, and also how to store them properly, away from food service areas so that there is no contamination of food from these chemicals.

Every restaurant should ensure that they have set procedures and a proper cleaning and safety, and hygiene manuals done for reference by all staff. Sufficient training sessions should be conducted on a regular basis by the management and management should ensure that everyone adheres to these regulations at all times. Non adherence to food safety standards can mean dire consequences for the restaurant owners and could even result in the business being closed down.