Food safety training? Does Your Business Need It?

Food safety training? Does your business need it?

It amazes me that business owners think that they can get away with the food hygiene failings that keep being reported. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/owner-award-winning-stockport-cafe-fined-8909702

The ultimate sin to commit with regard to food safety is to not have hand washing facilities for the staff. I have, over the years instilled the absolute, no excuses, need for the hand washing soap, hot water and disposable paper towels. These must be available daily, by the hour, forever!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. If the EHO can’t wash their hands on arrival; then your inspection will be tough and very, very thorough. Although, really, there’s no coming back from a lack of hand washing facilities.

One of the main things that I learnt as a manager of many staff, and a trainer is that,

[quote]”If the task is not assigned, then no-one does it”.[/quote]

So it’s not about the individual, but the job description and duties assigned. The task of ensuring that the hand washing facilities are in constant supply, must be assigned to ‘someone’. What about the first person to open up, the first chef on site, or the kitchen porter, or the pan/pot washer? Somebody! Anybody!

As for the rest of this report, well, there leaves a lot to be desired. Basic rules of food safety, separate raw from cooked food, are a must and can not be tolerated.

Food and rubbish must be separated. Nothing more to say on that. It’s so obvious, it’s painful to comment on it.

[quote]”The premises were also found to be in a filthy condition.”[/quote]

What smacks here is the trust that their regular customers will have had that they were doing the right thing. In Great Britain we have a fantastic system of ensuring that the food you eat is safe. Whether you buy it from a supermarket, local takeaway or cafe. It’s a given that you won’t become ill from eating their food.

We have an enviable system in place that works. So long as the laws of the land are followed. And this is criminal law that we are talking about. For serving safe food is the law!

Anyhoo, I could go on, and perhaps I will when the next contravention pops up.

[quote]If you think that you can’t afford the training, you can’t afford the fine![/quote]

To discuss and arrange staff, supervisor’s  or manager’s training, complete the contact form and I will be in touch.