24 Food Safety Top 10 Tips (English)

Summary

This presentation highlights the top 10 essential food-handling safety tips for food workers. Key points include working only when healthy, frequent handwashing, avoiding bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat foods, maintaining proper food temperatures, and cooking food thoroughly. It also emphasizes quick cooling of hot food, separating raw meat from other foods, and following a cleaning protocol (wash, rinse, sanitize, air dry). The importance of keeping food prep areas sanitized and consulting a supervisor with any safety questions is also stressed. The message concludes with a reminder that food safety saves lives.

Takeaways

• 🙂 Only work with food if you're healthy. If you're sick, don't work with food.
• 🧼 Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
• 🚫 Avoid touching ready-to-eat foods with your bare hands.
• 🔥 Keep hot food above 135°F or cold food below 41°F.
• 🍳 Ensure that food is cooked to the proper temperatures before serving.
• ❄️ Cool hot food from 135°F to 41°F within six hours.
• 🥩 Keep raw meat separate from other foods to prevent contamination.
• 🧽 Always follow these steps in order: wash, rinse, sanitize, air dry.
• 🧹 Keep food preparation areas and utensils clean and sanitized.
• ❓ Ask your supervisor or person in charge if you have any questions about food safety.

Q & A

Why is it important for food workers to avoid working when they are sick?

Working while sick can spread harmful bacteria or viruses to the food, increasing the risk of foodborne illnesses among consumers.

How often should food workers wash their hands?

Food workers should wash their hands thoroughly and often, especially after handling raw foods, using the restroom, or touching their face or hair.

Why should ready-to-eat foods not be touched with bare hands?

Touching ready-to-eat foods with bare hands can introduce germs or contaminants, which can be harmful since these foods won't be cooked further to kill any bacteria.

What are the safe temperature ranges for holding hot and cold food?

Hot foods should be kept above 135 degrees Fahrenheit, and cold foods should be kept below 41 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent bacterial growth.

What is the importance of cooking food to the proper temperatures?

Cooking foods to the correct temperatures ensures that harmful bacteria are killed, making the food safe for consumption.

How quickly should hot food be cooled down?

Hot food should be cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within six hours to prevent bacterial growth.

Why should raw meat be kept away from other foods?

Raw meat can contain harmful bacteria that could contaminate other foods, especially those that will not be cooked further before eating.

What are the four steps for cleaning food contact surfaces?

The four steps are: wash, rinse, sanitize, and air dry, to ensure that surfaces are free from contaminants.

Why is it crucial to keep food prep areas and utensils clean?

Keeping these areas clean prevents the spread of bacteria and ensures a safe environment for food preparation.

What should a food worker do if they have questions about food safety?

Food workers should ask their person in charge for clarification or guidance on any food safety questions they have to ensure proper practices are followed.