How many times have you heard about someone getting food poisoning at a restaurant or having an unpleasant experience due to lack of cleanliness? We have all heard the stories, and many will keep their distance from those dining establishments for a long while, possibly forever, as well as tell all of their friends and family in fear of it happening again! When you open your store each day, there are typically checklists to keep everyone accountable for cleanliness and ensure that food safety rules are being followed. However, after a while, it may seem easier to cut corners to save money and time here and there, but keep in mind that doing so can ultimately destroy your business. It is always a best practice to follow all food safety guidelines and keep your restaurant in the best shape possible. It only takes one bad situation to derail your business, and if that thing can be controlled, wouldn’t you rather keep the train on the tracks?
Buy Approved Products
It might be tempting to stop on the side of the road and grab that amazing deal on produce. Who would pass that up? However, if they are not an approved commercial supplier, you have higher chances of the food being contaminated. A lot of produce is not cooked at high enough temperatures to destroy the pathogens. Find suppliers that meet the local, state and federal laws and then from there you can compare prices to see what works best for you. Ask for inspection reports and be thorough.
Practice Food Safety
The USDA gives a list of food safety basics that everyone handling food should be implementing, from thawing, prepping and cooking, to serving and refreezing, and everything in between. Some basic food safety practices are to wash your hands and surfaces often. Be sure employees are aware of the importance and are taking the time throughout their shift to keep things clean. Separate foods so you do not cross contaminate, make sure to cook food at the correct temperature and refrigerate food in a timely manner to keep it from going bad.
Pest Control Maintenance
Just the thought of bugs in your restaurant might make your skin crawl, but it is an important topic to discuss. Keeping pests away is an ongoing prevention that you should be vigilant about as it can not only deter customers, but can cause foodborne illnesses and disease. Make sure you have staff in charge of getting trash out, keeping the trash bins clean and ensuring the dumpsters are closed. Ensure the closing shift does not leave any food out overnight and all surfaces have been cleaned. Check any shipments you receive for signs of pests so you can quickly remove it from your business. If there are ever any signs of pests, rodents or any other critter, be sure to call in a professional to come and rid the problem.
To sum it up, DO NOT take shortcuts on the important things that can make or break your business. Whether you are in a big city where you might be under more scrutiny, or a small town that doesn’t seem to mind a little mess, it is equally important to hold your restaurant to the highest standards. Be choosy about where you get your ingredients, have pest control prevention and protocol in place and practice food safety at all times. Your customers trust you to provide them with quality service and as a business owner, you should not cut corners, especially when it comes to food safety.
