practice Section 2 Preferred code of
Food Hygiene Page 2.1 It has been increasingly recognised that a major difficulty in attaining an acceptable food hygiene standard in hotels and other units of accommodation has been due to the lack of an acceptable code against which an audit can be undertaken. The Health & Safety Committee of FTO charged a subgroup consisting of their tour operator members, key consultancy companies and the FTO Head of Health & Safety under the chairmanship of their Medical Advisor, Professor Rodney Cartwright, to draw up a Preferred Code of Practice for Food Hygiene. It was to be such that hoteliers could reasonably be expected to aim to achieve it and would provide an acceptable degree of food hygiene in hotels and other units of accommodation. It is anticipated that the preferred code will be achievable and will provide a basis on which to develop a more comprehensive programme. In order to achieve the standards defined within this code of practice, some hotels may require assistance from external consultants. Reputable local and international suppliers are available to provide hygiene consultancy services and listed for your reference are the contact details of the U.K. consultants who have helped produce this code. Neil Rush - STS Tel: 01252 728300 Email. nrush@sts-solutions.co.uk Ian Greaves - IGI Tel: 01242 244281 Email: IanGreaves@igint.co.uk Mark Harrington - CheckSafetyFirst Tel: 01291 629863 Email: mharrington@checksafetyfirst.net Esteban Delgado - Preverisk Tel: 0034 971 439797 Email: edelgado@preverisk.com When preparing the code of practice the following documents were considered: World Health Organisation Guidance WHO Food Safety Issues: HACCP Introducing the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point System. The WHO Golden Rules for safe food preparation. WHO/FNU/FOS/94.5 Hygiene in Food-Service and Mass Catering Establishments. WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality. 2nd edition volume 1. FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius. The European Framework EC Directive 93/43/EEC Hygiene of Foodstuffs Regulation 852/2004 U.K. Food Guidance and Law The Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995. Food Safety Act 1990 Code of Practice 3 Inspection Procedures General. Food Safety Act 1990 Code of Practice 9 Food Hygiene Inspections. Industry Guide to Good Food Hygiene Practices: Catering Guide (The Food Safety). (General Food Hygiene Regulations 1995) & Guide the Food Safety (Temperature Control Regulations 1995). U.S Publication U.S Public Health Service Food Code 1999. Preferred Code of Practice Food Hygiene.
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Page 2.2 Under EU Legislation it is now recognised that the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) approach provides a workable and effective basis for good food hygiene. Food business operators are required to put in place procedures which manage food safety within their establishment. Article 5(1) of Regulation 852/2004 requires that the procedure or procedures be based upon the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) principles set out in Article 5(2). HACCP is a food handling and operating approach that promotes food safety by identifying food hazards and applying and monitoring appropriate control measures at points critical to safety. All food preparation should be undertaken following the HACCP principles. This will reduce the risk of food associated illness in guests, reduce the number of claims and provide a defence of due diligence for the hotelier should an incident occur. This document does not go into the specific details of the HACCP implementation but hoteliers may wish to obtain specialist advice and tour operators have details of reputable companies who can provide assessments, auditing and training. The HACCP approach has unfortunately often been made very complicated and difficult to understand. It was first developed for food production units and has been adapted for hotels and restaurants. The process used in the preparation of every dish or food should be subject to HACCP analysis. The process made simple HACCP is a method of ensuring that any premises that produce and serve food do so in a safe and hygienic way. In order to do this it is necessary to analyse your food flow from purchase through to service to identify possible safety hazards and then determine which points are absolutely critical to food safety to prevent causing an outbreak of illness or food contamination. All areas of the business must be considered. Once the food safety hazards have been identified a decision needs to be made as to the best way to control them. For example, we know that if cooked meat on a chilled buffet is not maintained at or below a temperature of 8 C, bacteria will grow and multiply thus creating a high risk of food poisoning. Therefore, the temperature control of the cooked meat is the critical control point. The temperature whilst the meat is on display should be monitored and recorded to ensure that the food is maintained at the correct temperature. The meat should be removed from the display and discarded after a maximum 4 hour period. Remember, a Critical Control Point (CCP) is a step in the preparation, handling or storage of food which has to be carried out correctly to ensure that a hazard is eradicated or reduced to a safe level. Training is a fundamental part of the HACCP process. All food handlers should receive appropriate training to allow them to perform their duties safely. A verification that you have a HACCP system in place is to keep accurate records of the measures taken relating to food safety in your business. These also help to provide due diligence in the event of a food poisoning outbreak. By following the principles of HACCP, standards of food safety can be raised thus promoting good quality and service for customers.
(HACCP) Continued Page 2.3 Management - All standards in a hotel are ultimately the responsibility of the hotel manager. The staffing structure should be clear and staff must be aware of their hygiene responsibilities. - The staff structure within the catering, food and beverage divisions should be documented. - There should be an outline job description for all catering, food and beverage staff. This will define good hygiene practice and include details of responsibilities for implementing record keeping and checking records relating to food hygiene and HACCP. - The role of the hotel manager in regularly confirming those food hygiene practices are in place and operational, should be documented. - The hotel must have a written plan of action to be followed in the event of any illness occurring in which there is a possibility of food involvement. The plan should include up to date contact numbers for relevant persons and should be approved by the local public health or other officials responsible for such investigations. Water & ice - All water used in ice and food areas must meet the guideline values set by the World Health Organisation (Guidelines for drinking water quality. 2nd edition Vol. 1 1993). - The supplier of the water to the hotel should test the water regularly to ensure that all water used in food areas meet the guideline values set by the World Health Authority. Any private supplies of the hotel should be tested to the same standard. Corrective action should be taken immediately if the tests show that the water does not meet the guidelines. Details of the water results and corrective action taken should be recorded. - Regular in-house tests of the water and ice quality should be conducted and the results together with any corrective action taken should be recorded and the results available for inspection. - Ice must be stored in a clean and hygienic condition and kept free from contamination. - In all areas of food preparation a constant supply of hot and cold water must be available at all times. - The temperature of hot water must exceed 50ºC (122ºF) at all taps and faucet s. Purchasing of food - Details of the companies who supply food stocks to the premises should be retained. This should include the Company Name, Premises Address, Contact Number and Description of the food produce purchased from the particular company. - When choosing companies to provide food goods details of their HACCP procedures should be viewed. - It is suggested that their premises and food production is audited by an external auditor and records of the inspection are retained. - There should be a documented procedure for the returning of unsuitable foods. Food delivery - All deliveries must be checked for freshness, temperature, colour, odour, contamination, infestations and satisfactory packaging and labelling. - All food should be purchased from suppliers in accordance with this code of practice.
Page 2.4 Food delivery continued - All complaints or delivery problems must be reviewed. In the case of recurring problems it may be appropriate to secure an alternative supplier. - The delivery reception area must be kept clean, free from waste materials and any risk of infestation and contamination. - Food must not be left open to any risk of contamination. - Foods must not be accepted if there is evidence of poor quality, inappropriate odour, contamination, infestations or unsatisfactory packaging and labelling. - Chilled goods should not be accepted if the temperature is above 8ºC (46ºF). - Frozen foods should not be accepted if the temperature is above -18ºC (0ºF). - Deliveries of frozen or chilled goods must be placed in the appropriate storage within 15 minutes of delivery. - Seam dented or blown canned goods must not be accepted. - Containers used for the receipt, storage or distribution of goods must be kept clean and dry. - Procedures must ensure that cross contamination does not occur during the process of delivery and storage. - Records must be kept to show: The date the product was received. The time the product was received. The temperature of the product when received. The condition of the product when received. Who the product was purchased from. Product description. Storage - Food stock should be kept to a minimum. The foods and/or materials must be stored to prevent deterioration, contamination or cross contamination. - Food stock should be stored in such a way to allow FIFO First In, First Out. - The shelf life of all products in store must be known. - Where available, manufacturers instructions on storage must be followed. Where not available or where food has been removed from packaging, the caterer must determine the shelf life and label the product accordingly. Labels should include a product description, produced/opened date, best before or use by date to allow for effective stock control. - Separate and identify spoiled, rejected or out of date food to prevent accidental use. - All food in storage must be fit for human consumption. - Rooms and equipment for storage of dry products must be: Kept clean. Kept free from pests. Kept cool and well ventilated (either natural or assisted). Lit well enough to be able to see dirt or pest infestation. Kept dry to preserve the quality of the food. - Products must be stored off the floor and away from walls, on racking or mobile units and should be able to be checked easily.
(HACCP) Continued Page 2.5 Cold storage - This includes the storage of foods at low temperatures whether in a freezer, refrigerator, cold room or cold display unit. The correct use of cold storage is essential in the prevention of food bacterial growth. - Refrigeration and freezer equipment must be designed to enable it to be easily cleaned. - They should be serviced regularly, defrosted, cleaned regularly and maintained and in good working order. - Internal linings and shelves should be impervious and non-corroding. - The capacity must be sufficient for the business and the units must not be overfilled. - The lids and doors of refrigerators and freezers must be fitted with effective seals. - Keep raw and ready to eat foods separate, preferably in separate refrigerator or freezer units. - If separate units are not available: Store raw and ready to eat foods on separate shelves. Raw food shelves must be clearly marked and always located below ready to eat food shelves. - All frozen and refrigerated foods should be stored in clean food grade containers to prevent cross contamination and preserve the quality of the foods. - Food must be checked to ensure that the quality is maintained and that stock effectively rotated. - All out of date foods must be discarded. - Food must not be stored on the floor. - Storage containers must be kept clean and dry. - Doors and lids must be opened for as short a time as possible. - Refrigerators must be capable of maintaining food temperatures between 0ºC (32ºF) and 8ºC (46ºF). - Frozen products should be stored at -18ºC (0ºF) or below. - The food temperature must be monitored and recorded and the records must be available for inspection. - Equipment must be operated according to the manufacturers instructions. The recommended temperatures in the instructions should be closely followed. - Staff should be instructed in the proper use of the equipment. - Once the cooling cycle is complete the product should be maintained at an appropriate temperature. - The temperatures should be monitored and recorded and the records together with the manufacturers instructions must be available for inspection. - There must be a written procedure to be implemented in the event of a breakdown or malfunction of a refrigerator or freezer; this will include the procedure for the safe storage, use or disposal of the food. Thermometers & antiseptic wipes - Food handlers must be provided with sufficient probe thermometers and antiseptic wipes for the testing of food temperatures. - All temperature measurements should be monitored and recorded and the records be available for inspection. - All thermometers must be calibrated using boiling water 100ºC (212ºF) and a water and ice mixture 0ºC (32ºF).
Page 2.6 Food preparation - During food preparation it is essential to maintain separation between raw and ready to eat foods. If possible, different work surfaces and equipment should be utilised. It is essential that work surfaces and equipment are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after use. Cleaning is essential between use for different foods. Cleaning cloths used on work surfaces or equipment in contact with raw food must be a distinct colour and never used on ready to eat work surfaces and equipment. - Cross contamination procedures should be in place to protect food whilst it is being handled. This can include the use of different coloured chopping boards, knives and equipment for raw and ready to eat foods. - Separation of raw and ready to eat food must be maintained at all times, this may be achieved by using different designated areas or by using the same area at a different time provided there is thorough cleaning before a different food is prepared. - All high-risk foods during preparation must be kept free from the risk of contamination and kept at a safe temperature. - There must be a documented defrosting procedure, which includes: Provision for the protection of food from contamination. Ensuring that food or thawed liquids do not contaminate food preparation areas or other food. A temperature monitoring process to ensure that the centre of the food is defrosted. The temperature of the foods does not exceed 8ºC (46ºF). The time and date food removed from the freezer. The time and date and temperature of food when defrosted. - The food temperature must be monitored and recorded on a regular basis and records must be available for inspection. - Cooking must ensure that harmful bacteria are destroyed. - The centre temperature of the food should exceed 75ºC (167ºF). - Wherever possible food must be cooked and served immediately. - There must be a documented cooling procedure, which includes: Cooked food items not for immediate service, or to be served cold must be cooled to less than 10ºC (51ºF) as quickly as possible (within 4 hours) and kept refrigerated. Cooked food should be decanted into cold storage containers. Where appropriate bulk foods should be sliced or portioned to assist the cooling process. Areas suitable for the cooling of food should be designated. The cooling food temperature must be monitored and recorded on a regular basis and records must be available for inspection. - Food should be reheated so that the centre temperature of the food is at least 75ºC (167ºF) after the reheating process. - Food must only be reheated once and all leftovers must be discarded. - The food temperature must be monitored and recorded and records be available for inspection.
(HACCP) Continued Page 2.7 Food holding and display - Equipment used to hold and or display hot food should be capable of maintaining the food temperature at 63ºC (145ºF) or above throughout the time the food is held. - Food for hot serving must be kept at 63ºC (145ºF) or above. Hot food removed from display after 2 hours should be discarded. - The time and food temperature must be monitored and recorded and records be available for inspection. - Separate serving utensils for each food type should be provided. - All hot food displayed must be protected from the risk of contamination by ensuring that food is kept covered with appropriate food covers or by the use of sneeze guards. - Equipment used to hold and or display cold food should be capable of maintaining the food temperature at 8ºC (46ºF) or below, throughout the time the food is held. - Food for cold serving must be kept at 8ºC (46ºF) or below and should not be kept within cold display units for more than 4 hours. - Foods must not be subject to any form of cross contamination. - The time and food temperature must be monitored and recorded and records be available for inspection. - Separate serving utensils for each food type should be provided. - All cold food displayed must be protected from the risk of contamination by ensuring that food is kept covered with appropriate food covers or by the use of sneeze guards. - Foods on display should be suitably labelled to identify the food items and where appropriate ingredients to prevent food allergies. Pest control/refuse - Rodents, insects, and flies can contaminate food with harmful bacteria and must be prevented from entering food premises. - Premises and refuse areas must be kept clean and contained to prevent access by rodents. - Food should be stored off the floor and kept away from the walls. - Drains must be kept clean and in good condition. Water traps should be maintained and gullies should be fitted with metal grills. - Buildings must be maintained in good repair. - Doors should be fitted with proofing strips. - Where electric fly killing devices are used, they must be clean, maintained in good working order and not placed above any food preparation or handling area. They must be regularly serviced and maintained by a competent person and the bulbs replaced annually. - There should be a pest control programme for the buildings, grounds and food handling areas, this must include: Regular surveys of food premises must be carried out to ensure that they are pest/insect free. Reporting of pest damage and pest sightings. Infestations must be dealt with immediately utilising a pest control expert. Records must be kept, including details of any corrective actions taken in relation to pest control. Records should be available for inspection. - Refuse areas must be clean and in a good state of repair. - All waste must be stored in containers that are pest proof and protected to prevent the entry of flies.
Page 2.8 Pest control/refuse continued - The containers must be kept in a good state of repair and kept clean. - Food waste and refuse must not accumulate in food areas. - Adequate provision must be made for the removal of food waste and refuse. Staff - Food handling staff are those who are involved in the storage, preparation, processing or serving of food. Food handling staff are one of the most important assets in the hotel, they must have adequate training and maintain the highest standards of personal hygiene. - Staff may bring bacteria and viruses that can cause food poisoning into the food area therefore it is essential that managers be aware of any illness so that appropriate actions can be taken. - All food handling staff must be subject to a health screening process and records kept and monitored. This should be undertaken in consultation with a medical advisor. - There must be a documented illness reporting procedure for all staff. This must be clearly communicated to and adhered by all personnel. - Staff suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea must not be permitted to work in any food handling areas. - Staff who have an infected wound, skin condition or jaundice must seek medical advice prior to being permitted to enter any food handling areas. - Staff will only be able to maintain high standards if they have been trained to a recognised level and at least annual refresher courses are attended. - All staff must receive the appropriate supervision and hygiene training to ensure they are able to comply with the hygiene requirements associated with their job. The initial training should be given on induction and subsequent training should be given at regular intervals and continue throughout their employment. The training programme should be written down and ideally be approved by an external body. - Written training records must be maintained and be available on request. - The provision of good staff facilities will encourage the staff and will indicate to them the standards expected by the management. It should be remembered that it is the staff who look after the guests. - A designated area away from the food preparation sites must be provided for staff to change into working clothes from their outside clothes. This area must be kept clean and tidy. - There must be designated staff toilets, which must be kept clean. - Hand wash basins must be provided and supplied with hot and cold water, soap and disposable paper towels or hot air hand drying facilities at all times. - Toilet areas must not open directly into a room where food handling takes place. - There must be a suitable and sufficient supply of first aid equipment including waterproof plasters available for the use by food handlers in an accessible location. Personal hygiene & general staff procedures - Food handlers must frequently wash their hands particularly between preparing raw and ready to eat foods. - Staff must be aware of the importance of regular hand washing. - They must have received training and regularly be encouraged to wash their hands. - Hand washing facilities must be available with hand basins separate from food preparation sinks.
(HACCP) Continued Page 2.9 Personal hygiene & general staff procedures continued - Hand wash basins must be provided and supplied with hot and cold water, soap and disposable paper towels or hot air hand drying facilities at all times. - All food handling personnel should be provided with and should wear, clean washable protective over-clothing as a uniform in the food premises. - Long hair must be tied back and a head covering should also be worn. - Nails should be short and clean. - Any cuts or abrasions must be covered with a brightly coloured waterproof dressing. - False nails must not be worn. - Wrist watches, jewellery (with the exception of a wedding band) must not be worn in any food preparation area. - Staff must not smoke or spit in any food preparation area. - Staff must not eat or drink in any food preparation area. - Visitors to the food premises should be kept to a minimum. Any permitted visitors should observe all hygienic procedures. - Staff who are not working in the food premises should not be permitted to use the area as gathering place or as a through route to other parts of the hotel. Food premises - Food premises are all areas where food is stored, prepared or processed. They may be part of a storage area, main kitchen complex or small units such as a poolside BBQ or snack bar. - The size of the food premises should be appropriate for the volume of food being processed. - The layout of food premises should ensure that food can be moved in a sequence from receipt, through preparation, processing, cooking and to serving in order to minimise the risk of cross contamination. - Floors must be smooth, non-slip, impervious, in good state of repair and kept clean. - Wall finishes must be in a good state of repair and kept clean. - Ceilings must be in a good state of repair and kept clean. - Doors must be in good state of repair, ideally self-closing and kept clean. - Windows and ledges must be in a good state of repair and kept clean. - Windows that open should be fitted with fly screens and ledges should not be used as storage places. Note: in new or refurbished structures, consideration must be given to sloping window ledges. - Lighting must be good enough to allow safe food handling, effective cleaning and the monitoring of cleaning standards. - Glass lights should be protected with shatterproof diffusers or covers in all food areas including storage areas. - Ventilation must be sufficient to remove heat and cooking fumes from the food premises. Ventilation units must be kept in a clean condition at all times. - Drainage must be sufficient to carry away the waste and must be protected to prevent the entry of pests. - All drainage channels must be kept clean. - There must be a provision made for separate hand washing, food washing and equipment washing facilities. All sinks regardless of their use should have hot running water with a temperature of at least 50ºC (122ºF) and cold running water. - Hand wash basins must also be supplied with anti-bacterial soap and disposable paper towels or hot air hand drying facilities at all times.
Page 2.10 Equipment, furnishings & fittings - This includes all of the equipment, furnishings and fittings used in the storage, preparation or processing of food. - Food equipment must be kept clean. - All equipment and utensils should be washed in hot water with appropriate food safe detergent. - Equipment must be designed to enable easy and thorough cleaning to prevent the build up of food particles that may contain harmful bacteria or attract pests. - Where practical the equipment should be moveable to allow cleaning of the surface underneath. - All equipment must be maintained in good condition and full working order. - Maintenance and repairs should not be carried out in areas whilst food is being prepared or displayed. - All fittings must be in a good state of repair and kept clean. - Work surfaces must be smooth, impervious, durable, suitable for their intended use and kept clean. Cleaning & disinfection - Cleaning is the process used for removing grease, dirt and visible soiling. Disinfection is a further stage of the cleaning process using suitable chemicals to reduce the risk of food being contaminated by harmful bacteria. - There must be a written cleaning programme with frequencies, specified materials to be used and any specific cleaning instructions. - All chemicals used must be designed for use in food premises. - Cleaning material and chemicals must be clearly labelled and stored in a separate area from food to prevent contamination. - All cleaning equipment must be kept clean and maintained. Audits - Auditing is an integral part of any hygiene programme to regularly check and record that all procedures are being carried out and that the expected results are being achieved. This not only provides a check but also gives a baseline for improvements. - There must be a regular in-house auditing scheme, at least every 3 months. A member of staff with specific training should undertake the audit. The audit should, as a minimum consider all the points in this code of practice and audit results must be available for inspection. Any defects identified during the inspections and details of the defect together with corrective action should be recorded. - There should be arrangements for regular external audits by an independent consultant and the results should be available for inspection. - Records relating to Municipality inspections must be available for inspection. - Details of the corrective action taken to rectify issues identified during the independent inspection should be documented and the records retained.
Food Hygiene Appendix Page 2.11 These notes give a glossary of terms relating the food hygiene section of the code of practice. All pictures used show poor examples of the subjects they relate to. Food safety management procedures Are procedures based on the principles of HACCP (hazard analysis critical control point). They should be kept in place permanently. Documents and records relating to your procedures should be kept up to date. if you change what you produce or how you work then you should review your procedures. In practice, this means that you must have procedures in place to manage food safety hazards in your business. These procedures should be in proportion to the size of the business and the type of work you do. HACCP Is a way of managing food safety and is system based on putting in place procedures to control hazards. It involves: Looking closely at what you do in your business and what could go wrong. Identifying the critical control points these are the places you need to focus on to prevent hazards or reduce them to an acceptable level. Putting in place procedures to make sure hazards are controlled at your critical control points. Deciding what action you need to take if something goes wrong. Making sure that your procedures are working. Keeping appropriate records to show how your procedures are working, inspectors will ask to see them. Hazard A hazard is something that could be dangerous or harmful. In relation to food, a hazard is something that could mean that food will not be safe to eat. Food safety hazards can be: Microbiological involving harmful bacteria, e.g. when certain foods are kept out of the fridge for too long and bacteria grow in them. Chemical involving chemicals getting into food, e.g. cleaning products or pest control chemicals. Physical involving objects getting into food, e.g. broken glass or pieces of packaging, hair. Hazards can happen at any stage from taking deliveries to serving customers Hazards should be eliminated from the process. Good food hygiene Good food hygiene is essential to ensure that food served at your premises is safe to eat. Good food hygiene helps to: Meet the food safety requirements of your country. Reduce the risk of food poisoning among your customers. Protect your business s reputation.
Page 2.12 Good food hygiene continued Good food hygiene is all about controlling contamination of food and water, which can cause serious illness or injury. There are four things to remember: Cross-contamination Cleaning Chilling Cooking These are commonly known as the 4 Cs. If you manage these four elements correctly it will help you prevent the most common food safety problems. One - cross contamination Cross contamination in a walk-in store Cross contamination is when bacteria are spread between foods. It can be through direct contact, where raw foods touch ready to eat foods, or indirectly through contact with equipment or surfaces that are covered in bacteria. Cross contamination is one of the most common causes of food poisoning. The following things can help to avoid it: Clean work surfaces, chopping boards and equipment thoroughly before you start preparing food and after you have used them. Ideally, use different chopping boards and knives for raw and ready-to-eat food. Wash your hands before preparing food. Wash your hands thoroughly after touching raw food. Keep raw and ready-to-eat foods apart at all times. If possible, use separate refrigerators for raw and ready-to-eat food. If you do not have separate refrigerators for raw and cooked foods. Store raw food below ready-to-eat food in the refrigerator on shelves clearly labelled for this purpose. Ensure that your staff know how to avoid cross contamination.
Food Hygiene Appendix Continued Page 2.13 Two cleaning Poor cleaning and equipment storage Effective cleaning gets rid of bacteria on hands, equipment and surfaces and it helps to stop harmful bacteria from spreading onto food. You should: Clean food areas and equipment between different tasks, especially after handling raw food. Clear and clean as you go. Clear away used equipment, spilt food etc. as you work and clean work surfaces thoroughly with hot water and food safe sanitizer. Three chilling Poor temperature control Chilling food properly helps to stop harmful bacteria from growing. Some foods need to be kept chilled to keep them safe, especially food with a use by date, cooked dishes and ready-to-eat food such as prepared salads and desserts. It is very important to ensure that these types of food are not left out at ambient room temperature. When managing chilled foods, you should: Check chilled food on delivery to make sure it is the correct temperature. Put food that needs to be kept chilled in the refrigerator straight away. Cool cooked food as quickly as possible and then put it in the refrigerator. Keep chilled food out of the refrigerator for the shortest time possible during preparation. Using a thermometer check that your refrigerator and display units are cold enough. Record your findings and actions taken to rectify any faults.
Page 2.14 Four cooking Too much food being prepared and cooked at the same time Thorough cooking kills harmful bacteria in foods, so it is extremely important to make sure that food is cooked properly. When cooking or reheating food, always check that it is piping hot all the way through. It is especially important to make sure that you thoroughly cook poultry, rolled joints and products made from minced meat, such as burgers and sausages. This is because there could be bacteria in the middle of these types of food. They should not be served pink or rare and should be piping hot all the way through. Whole cuts of meat (such as steaks) and whole joints of beef and lamb can be served pink/rare as long as they are fully sealed on the outside. Always ensure that hot food is cooked to and then served or displayed at the correct temperature. Temperatures should be checked using a thermometer and the findings and actions taken documented. Calibration Is the method to ensure that probe thermometers are working correctly. Probes should be regularly calibrated, by putting them in ice water and boiling water. The readings in ice water should be between -1ºC and 1ºC ideally 0ºC the reading in the boiling water should be between 99ºC and 101ºC ideally 100ºC. If the reading of the thermometer is outside of this range then it should be discarded and replaced.
Food Hygiene Appendix Continued Page 2.15 Defrosting Poor example of defrosting meat When defrosting foods, it should be done in such a way to minimise the risk of harmful bacteria growing in the food. This can be achieved by placing the defrosting item in a chilled room or by placing the item in the refrigerator. It should not be left out at ambient temperatures or defrosted in water. Liquid coming from the defrosting food may contaminate other foods, therefore it should be kept separate and the defrosting water, blood or juices should be drained off to avoid spillages Food premises Are areas where you prepare, treat, process, serve or store food. The design and layout must allow good food hygiene practices, including protection against contamination between and during tasks. Food transport Poor example of food delivery Vehicles and/or containers used to transport foods should be kept clean and maintained in good repair and condition, to protect foods from contamination. Where necessary, they must be designed and constructed to allow adequate cleaning and/or disinfection. To avoid contamination, boxes and containers used to hold food in vehicles must not be used for transporting anything other than foods. Where vehicles are used for transporting anything other than foods or for transporting different foods, they should be cleaned effectively between loads. If the transport has a cooling unit the temperature should be checked regularly. The cooling unit should be maintained and serviced.
Page 2.16 Food waste Poor waste management All food waste and packaging should be disposed of in a hygienic and environmentally friendly way, in accordance with the requirements of the resort or country of business. Pests should be prevented from gaining access to discarded food, packaging or kitchen waste. Hand washing Inappropriate use of a hand wash basin Effective hand washing is extremely important to help prevent harmful bacteria from spreading from people s hands to food, work surfaces and equipment etc. All staff that work with food should wash their hands properly, using hot water and soap: When entering the food handling area, e.g. after a break or going to the toilet. Before preparing food. After touching raw food, such as meat/poultry and eggs. After handling food waste or emptying a bin. After cleaning. After blowing their nose. Staff should dry hands thoroughly on a disposable towel harmful bacteria can spread more easily if your hands are wet or damp.
Food Hygiene Appendix Continued Page 2.17 Hand washing continued How to wash your hands - Wet your hands thoroughly under hot running water and squirt liquid soap onto the palm of one hand. - Rub your hands together to make lather. - Rub the palm of one hand along the back of the other and along the fingers. Then repeat with the other hand. - Rub in between each of your fingers on both hands and round your thumbs, then your fingertips and nails. - Rinse off the soap with clean hot water. - Dry hands thoroughly using a disposable towel then turn off the tap with the towel and throw the towel away in the bin. Personal hygiene Is the cleanliness of and standards maintained by every person working in a food-handling area. Pest control Dead rodent in a kitchen Is the method ensuring that adequate procedures are in place to ensure that pests are prevented from entering food premises, food stores, waste receptacles and refuse areas. It is prudent that there is a pest control programme is in place at the premises. Service and display Do not over fill display units or bain-maries it is better to replenish the units with foods throughout the meal serving, the presentation will be better and the quality of the food will be preserved. Stock control Is the method of controlling all food purchased and is an important part of managing food safety. It is important to review your menus regularly and understand how it affects your stock requirements. Staff should be trained to manage the stock requirements of the premises and the process should be monitored by the management of the premises. Staff should undertake stock control checks prior to submitting an order with the suppliers. Use the first in first out (FIFO) method of stock rotation, to ensure that old stock is used first. Where food is removed from its original packaging and placed in another container/food grade bag, it must be clearly labelled, giving the food type, receipt date and use by date.
Page 2.18 Suppliers and contractors Are those people who supply food, ingredients and or services such as pest control management to your premises. It is important to choose suppliers and contractors that you can trust to handle your food orders and deliver their services effectively. When choosing new suppliers, you should consider: How long has the supplier/contractor been in business? Do they store, pack and transport their goods in a hygiene manner? Do other food businesses in the area use them? What are their thoughts on the service provided? Do they have any certification or quality assurance recognition? Temperature control Is the method of ensuring that food is cooked, stored, chilled or hot held correctly. When checking the temperatures of foods, always use a clean probe. Insert the probe so that the tip is in the centre of the food, or at the thickest part. Wait a few second for the display to stabilise before taking the reading. Remove the probe and clean it thoroughly and disinfect before you use it again. Training & supervision The person or people responsible for developing and maintaining the food safety management procedures, based on the principles of HACCP should have received the appropriate training to enable them to do this. All food handling staff should be trained to perform their job role. Training should be a combination of theory and practical exercises relating to their role. It is important to show staff what to do and explain to them how to do it. You should test their knowledge and understanding by asking questions and monitoring them in the work place. Water supply Where non-potable water (not of drinking quality) is used in your premises for example for fire systems and control, steam production or refrigeration it must circulate in a separate system. It must not connect with, or be able to get into, the water systems for potable (drinking quality) water. Where recycled water is used around the premises or grounds for irrigation purposes it must be treated to ensure that does not present a risk of contamination.