Commercial Food Hygiene

Starting and running any form of food business has its challenges. But of all the things that you need to concern yourself about, the one concern that should be on top of your list when you start a food business is hygiene. This should never, never be overlooked, because doing so will lead to serious health, business, and legal repercussions for you and your business.

In the year 2000, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) was established by an Act of Parliament. The FSA is an independent department of the government that protects the health of the public and the interests of the consumers on all food items. In conjunction with this agency, The General Food Regulations 2004 and the General Food Law Regulation (EC) 178/2002 are legislations that were put in place for food safety; both were based on the Food Safety Act of 1990.

Laws are there for compliance, and as a food business owner, you should do everything you can to make sure you know the law and comply with it. Of course, reading these laws line by line might be time consuming, so just to start you off, here's a quick summary of the most important parts:

1. Hand washing. Yes, complying with these standards starts with something as simple as washing your hands (1) before you handle food and (2) several times during the cooking process, especially when you handle raw meat. Cross contamination is the most common method through which food borne illnesses spread, and unwashed hands are the most common vehicles for passing harmful organisms around.
2. Food washing. All the food, especially fruits and vegetables, must also be washed properly before they are cooked or served. However, because some foods spoil faster once they have been washed, you should wash them only right before they are to be used. Do not use soap for washing, as this could be absorbed by the food and be toxic to your customers. Instead, use cold water in washing, and for hard produce such as potatoes, use a clean vegetable brush to scrub its skin.
3. Site inspection. Regular inspections of the kitchen and all food-related areas such as freezers should be made. These inspections should be done as often as possible, and things that can be improved on should immediately be taken note of and corrected. Additionally, food areas should be cleaned whenever possible. Local authorities can sometimes do inspections themselves without notice, so you should always be prepared.
4. Transparency. Your customers should know what they are buying. For instance, they should know exactly what is in your sausages. The "nature or substance or quality demanded by the purchaser" should be what is given to the purchaser. Do not serve pork sausages if the order was for beef.
5. Food processing. Take all efforts to make sure that the food you serve is not made dangerous to your customers' health because of a substance or ingredient you added or removed from the food, or because of any processing methods that you subjected the food to. For instance, if a certain type of sweetener has been proven to affect people's health adversely, that sweetener should not be used, even if it is in your commercial interest to do so.
6. Traceability. Where did your food products come from? You should know, and you should keep records of all places from which you got your food, as well as all places to which you delivered your food. From time to time, authorities shall be asking for these records, and it is important that you be able to provide them.

Food hygiene legislation is strict, but it is that way for a reason. Keep your commercial premises clean and following these laws to ensure your customers won't get sick and your business will not, as a result, be closed down. It is for everyone's good - but surely, you already knew that.

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The Importance Of Quality Pest Control In The Food Business

Quality pest control is a must in food businesses such as catering, food production, food retail, and food preparation, whether they are operating within business establishments or from home.

The Problem With Pests

Pests are attracted to food premises because they offer shelter and food source. Once pests get into your establishment, they can contaminate your food, cause damage to your building, furnishings and furniture, and also cause diseases. Common pests such as cockroaches, mice and rats can carry viruses and bacteria that can contaminate food and the surfaces that food get into contact with.

A pest infestation can put your product including your business' reputation at risk; if your customers know you have pest problems they won't patronize your business and you may lose trade. Therefore, it is important that you do all you can to prevent pests from getting into your establishment.

The Solutions

Take action. You should do all your best in preventing pests from getting into your premises instead of waiting for the pest to get in before you take action. To save money and make your pest prevention more effective, you should start your pest management outside your building; remove the things that can attract them; and regularly check your premises for signs of pests.

Hire pest controllers. It is best to arrange for a pest control contract with a company or contractor that offer a range of services. Your chosen company should be registered with a recognized pest control association or trade body. Your contractor should be able to tell you about the potential problems, carry out work then check and report the results.

Pest control is not only about putting poisons in place; if your pest problem requires such action, you should leave the handling of poisons to the professionals.

Look after your business premises. The building, layout and design of your food premises should help in preventing contamination by pests. You should at all times keep your building and surroundings clean and tidy. Fix dripping faucets and keep unused equipment and materials liked stored wood metal and garden waste away from the building. Keep food in pest-proof containers off the floor when putting them in the storeroom.

Waste management. Keep your waste bins away from the outside wall of your building and you should have enough storage space to put all waste on a closed fitted cover.

Your staff should be aware of the signs of pests within the business premises. You should immediately contact a pest control contractor if you find a problem so that they can deal with it at once.

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How To Clean Safely To Protect Your Food Business

Creating and sticking to an efficient cleaning schedule is important for any food business, not just because it makes the process of maintaining food hygiene standards easier, but because it also acts as a written record for the dreaded Environmental Health Officer (EHO) inspections. However, allocating tasks and completing them is only half the battle. It is vital that business owners make sure that every task is carried out regularly enough and most importantly, that it is done properly and safely.

Our Top 10 Safety Tips when Cleaning

1. Before you start cleaning, make sure that food is safely stored out of the way and cannot be contaminated
2. If you are cleaning a refrigerator, cold room or freezer, ensure that the food is kept at a safe temperature outside the danger zone
3. Switch off and isolate electrical equipment, such as slicers, refrigerators, vending machines, processing machines with dry hands before you start to clean
4. Ensure that you know how to use a cleaning chemical safely and always follow the manufacturer's instructions
5. Do not leave items to soak in disinfectant for longer than the manufacturer's recommended contact time because bacteria may become resistant to the chemicals. Never leave them to soak overnight
6. Wear protective clothing, such as rubber gloves and goggles, appropriate to the job
7. Never mix chemicals together, they could explode, cause toxic fumes or burn your skin
8. Work through the stages of cleaning in a way that does not spread dust or dirt, avoid being distracted in a way that puts you, other people or food at risk
9. Clean and disinfect mops and cloths soon after use and leave them to dry in the air
10. Always store chemicals, cleaning equipment away from food and only store chemicals in the original labelled containers designed for that purpose

It is important to remember that bacteria can be present on food that arrives at your business and if this is the case, these bacteria will remain present while the food is in storage. It is therefore essential that workspaces are as clean as possible to minimise the chance of such bacteria spreading. Keeping staff up to date with information and informing them of the risks and situations in which bacteria can multiply will give your business the best chance of maintaining a sufficiently hygienic and safe environment.

Cleaning should be considered as part of the job role for anyone who handles food, even in the smallest capacity. Because of this, all staff should be suitably trained for any cleaning tasks they will be expected to carry out so that they know exactly how to go about the process in a safe and reliable manner. As a business owner, if you are depending on your staff to carry out the necessary hygiene maintenance to run an effective food business, you need to be certain that each team member can be trusted to do things properly.

Cleaning should never be an afterthought in any food business and it should be given prominence within the daily routine. A slap dash wipe over surfaces does not mean that they are safe to work on and it won't be considered as a genuine attempt to uphold Food Hygiene Legislation by any EHO

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Tips on How to Choose Fresh Food Items

It is a good thing to follow a healthy diet but it is much better if you're the one preparing the healthy dishes for yourself and for your family. Learning how to prepare delightful recipes is important especially for those people who want to enter the food business. It is not enough for you to taste the food but it is a must that you learn how they are prepared.

When you enter into the food business, you should be hands-on when it comes to managing and supervising your employees on how to properly handle and prepare each recipe that they will serve. This can help prevent the occurrence of food poisoning. Food poisoning is the common result of improper handling and preparation of food. Chefs should make it a habit to ensure that all the ingredients are safe to be used and that the cooking equipment and utensils are well-cleaned and properly stored.

Sea food is an example of food items that easily get spoiled. That is why it is advisable to inspect it thoroughly to be sure that it is fresh and that safe to eat. One important tip when buying sea foods is to purchase only from reputable stores or market. It is better if you buy from someone whom you trust. Check immediately the quality of the seafood and look for signs of spoilage. If you plan to buy crabs or lobsters, it would be best to choose the lives ones to ensure its freshness.

Another tip when buying sea food is to refrigerate it especially if you're not going to cook it that day. This can help maintain the freshness although it Is suggested that you cook the seafood within 2-3 days.

For other fresh food items that you want to buy, it would be better if you ask the vendor or merchant as to where the food came from before deciding whether to buy or not. For those who want to buy meat, it is wise if you buy from reputable stores or vendors. You should also check the color of the meat. Fresh meat is usually red or pinkish in color. Another wise move is to check the license of the vendor or the business permit of the market and make sure that the meats they are selling were checked by authorized meat inspectors.

When it comes to cooking meats, meats differ on what temperature they should be cooked. You should know the recommended temperature for the meat before cooking it to ensure that bacteria and contaminants will get killed upon applying heat.

Cooked food should not be left on the table or in the counter but must immediately be placed in the refrigerator. Never allow the food left longer than 2 hours.

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Thinking of Starting a Food Business? See Which Are the Most Profitable

Most everyone, at some point or another, thinks about starting their own business. Many gravitate toward the food business because, all other considerations aside, people need to eat. So what better way to make a business a success than giving the people what they want?

Because starting a food business from scratch can be very costly and lacking in support, many would-be owners gravitate toward food franchises instead. Franchises are generally require less of a financial investment, and have a brand name associated with them so the likelihood of success is greater.

Of course, if you're considering starting a food business, your first step will be to decide which food you're going to sell. If you don't have a specific preference, it only makes sense to invest in whatever's most profitable.

Profitability is, of course, hard to predict for any business venture. There are so many unknowns and so many variables that make one business and instant success and another a failure. But one sure way to get off on the right foot is to choose a food business that's popular.

Here are a few food businesses that are popular, and therefore most likely to be profitable.

Hot dog business

Whether it's at a mall, near a ballpark or at the beach in the summertime, hot dogs are always big sellers. Popular with people young and old, hot dogs are an American tradition that are hard to beat. Investing in a hot dog franchise is a good choice.

Ice cream business

Who can resist a sweet, tasty treat on a hot summer day? Or even a cold winter one, for that matter? Ice cream is a universal best seller that never seems to go out of style.

Pretzel business

Opening a pretzel business can be a very sound and very profitable investment, especially if you choose a pretzel franchise. With many pretzel franchise opportunities available, you'll have a smaller upfront investment and the support of a franchisor behind you.

While it's true there are forces beyond your control that will determine the popularity and profitability of your franchise, there's a lot you can do to make sure your food business is a success.

Learn the ins and outs of the business. Nothing will help you maximize your profits more than having a firm grasp on all of the nuances of the food business you've chosen. Knowing the business like the back of your hand from the get-go will help you make decisions along the way that will help with profitability.

Advertise. Make sure you get the word out about your new food business venture, whether that word is online or in the real world. The more people know about your business, the more customers you'll have, and the more profit you're likely to make.

Seek help. This is especially easy when you're part of a franchise, but regardless of how your business is structured, you can ask fellow business owners for help and advice. Most people are perfectly willing to share their knowledge and experience.

Profitability isn't the only marker for success, but it is an important one. Do everything you can to maximize your profits, and you're sure to have a long and successful career as a food business owner.

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