Dear Melissa,
September is National Food Safety Education Month, and I’m curious how important food safety is in the grand scheme of things. Is it mostly just about keeping things clean, or is there more to it?
Sincerely,
Safe or Sorry
Dear Safe or Sorry,
Food safety is far more than just keeping things clean—it’s the backbone of trust and health in foodservice. According to the CDC, an estimated 48 million people in the U.S. get sick from food borne illnesses each year, resulting in 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. That’s not just a statistic; that’s real people affected by preventable issues. Food borne illnesses also cost the U.S. economy over $15.6 billion annually, making it a critical concern for both public health and business stability.
As a manufacturer’s rep for top brands like Anchor Hocking/Corelle, CDN, Mercer, and TableCraft, I see firsthand how the right products can make a difference. For example:
Anchor Hocking/Corelle provides the only NSF-certified, pressed 5-layer glass dinnerware from Corelle. Corelle’s Premium dinnerware resists cracking and is incredibly durable, minimizing contamination risks due to chips and cracks within the product.
CDN thermometers and timers are NSF-certified, ensuring they meet strict hygiene standards and allow operators to maintain proper temperatures and cook times, keeping food safety at the top of mind!
Mercer Culinary combats cross-contamination with their Millenia Colors cutlery collection. Implementing a HACCP system and the Millenia Colors collection together is a surefire way to keep your kitchen safe from cross-contamination. Mercer Culinary also has a wide range of color-coded kitchen accessories: y-peelers, turners, and pizza cutters. Further, Mercer Culinary offers a color-coded utensil series called Hell’s Handle suited and an Allergen Safety Set designed for keeping your operations safe and HACCP protocols easy to implement.
TableCraft has an extensive selection of cutting boards, portion scoops, squeeze bottle accessories, and tongs. These color-coded tools are food-safe options to separate produce and avoid cross-contamination. TableCraft also has squeeze bottles for safe sauce dispensing options, available in NSF-certified Invertatop and Wide-mouth selections for easy cleanability.
In summary, investing in high-quality, NSF-certified tools and durable dinnerware helps prevent contamination and support food safety standards.
Dear Melissa,
What are some best practices to keep food safety top of mind in my restaurant? Sincerely,
Food Safety Focused
Dear Food Safety Focused,
Great question! Here are some best practices that I always recommend:
Use NSF-Certified Equipment: Ensure all kitchen tools, from knives and spatulas to cutting boards and thermometers, are NSF-certified for food safety; a fantastic way to provide confidence in the back-of-house!
Prioritize Durability: Chips or cracks in dinnerware can harbor bacteria, leading to food borne illnesses and improper cleaning and sanitation protocols. Wherever there is missing glaze, bacteria strikes! Using a pressed glass option eliminates chipping, cracking, and crazing.
Practice Proper Sanitation: Routine cleaning and proper drying are crucial to reducing illness. In addition, another way to reduce illnesses within your operation is to keep and perform HACCP protocols with back-of-house food prep and storage items.
Train Your Team: Food safety is everyone’s responsibility. Conduct regular training sessions to keep best practices top of mind for your operation.
According to the National Restaurant Association, 95% of consumers say that food safety is their top consideration when choosing a place to eat. Investing in safe, reliable equipment helps build that trust.
This September and throughout the year, let’s join together and focus on food safety in style with HACCP colors and protocols, and NSF-certified back-of-house products and NSF-certified dinnerware to ensure quality, safety, and confidence!
