Chapter 2 Keeping Food Safe

What Is a Foodborne Illness? All restaurant and foodservice operations must keep food safe. Every person in the operation must work toward this goal. A foodborne illness is a disease transmitted to people by food. A foodborne-illness outbreak is when two or more people get the same illness after eating the same food. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there will be 76 million cases of foodborne illness in the United States each year. High-risk populations have a higher risk of getting a foodborne illness than others. The immune system is the body’s defense against illness. Older people’s immune system weakens with age 2.1 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Forms of Contamination To prevent foodborne illness, it is important to recognize the hazards that can make food unsafe. A hazard is something with the potential to cause harm. In the preparation of food, hazards are divided into three categories: biological, chemical, and physical. Contamination means that harmful things are present in food, making it unsafe to eat. Food can become unsafe through: Poor personal hygiene (transfers pathogens) Time-temperature abuse Cross-contamination Poor cleaning and sanitizing Purchasing from unapproved suppliers 2.1 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Biological Contamination Microorganisms are small, living organisms that can be seen only through a microscope. The four types of pathogens that can contaminate food and cause foodborne illness are: Viruses Bacteria Parasites Fungi Biological toxins: are made by pathogens, or they come from a plant or an animal (poisonous mushroom) 2.1 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Biological Contamination (cont.) Pathogens need six conditions to grow. FAT TOM, for Food, Acidity, Temperature (FAT), Time, Oxygen, and Moisture (TOM). Food that is most vulnerable for pathogen growth is food that needs time and temperature control for safety, or TCS food for short. Keep TCS food out of the temperature danger zone. Ready-to-eat food, or food that can be eaten without further preparation, washing, or cooking, also needs careful handling to prevent contamination. 2.1 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

FAT TOM Food: high in protein or carbohydrates (baked potato, beef) Acidity: grows in food with little or no acid (see p. 79) Temperature: grows between 41 and 135 degrees (temperature danger zone) Time: don’t leave TCS food at room temperatures longer than 4 hours Oxygen: most pathogens need oxygen to grow Moisture: pathogens need moisture to grow

Biological Contamination (cont.) Viruses are the leading cause of foodborne illness. Can’t grow in food, but once eaten, can multiply in intestines Bacteria also cause many foodborne illnesses. Grows rapidly, doubling their number every 20 minutes Parasites cannot grow in food. They must live in a host Host: a person, animal, or plant on which another organism lives and feeds. Fungi can cause illness, but usually they cause food to spoil. Fungi are found in air, soil, plants, water, and some food. Mold that is visible to the human eye is actually a tangled mass of thousands of tiny mold plants. Yeast can spoil food quickly. The signs of spoilage include the smell or taste of alcohol and bubbles 2.1 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Chemical Contamination Chemicals contaminants come from everyday items that are found in restaurants (cleaners and sanitizers) Store chemicals in a separate area away from food, utensils, and equipment used for food. To prevent toxic-metal poisoning don’t store acidic foods in metal containers 2.1 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Physical Contamination Physical contamination happens when objects get into food Common physical contaminants include: Metal shavings from cans Glass from broken lightbulbs Fingernails, hair, and bandages Jewelry Fruit pits 2.1 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Allergens A food allergy is the body’s negative reaction to a food protein. most common allergens: milk and dairy products eggs and egg products fish and shellfish wheat soy, peanuts, and tree nuts Employees should be aware of major allergens and the menu items that contain them. Cross-contact occurs when allergens are transferred from food containing an allergen to the food served to the customer. 2.1 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

U.S. Regulation of Food Safety The Food and Drug Administration recommends specific food safety regulations for restaurants An inspection is a formal review or examination conducted to see if an operation is following food safety laws. 2.1 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

How Foodhandlers Can Contaminate Food Good personal hygiene is a key factor in the prevention of foodborne illnesses. Successful managers make personal hygiene a priority. Foodhandlers can contaminate food in a variety of situations. Foodhandlers are food preparers, servers, dishwashers To prevent foodhandlers from contaminating food, managers must create personal hygiene policies. These policies must address personal cleanliness, clothing, hand care, and health. 2.2 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Personal Cleanliness and Work Attire Dirty clothing carry pathogens that can cause foodborne illnesses. To avoid spreading foodborne illnesses, foodhandlers should: cover hair Remove aprons when leaving prep areas Remove jewelry 2.2 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Handwashing Foodhandlers must also wash their hands after: Handwashing is the most important part of personal hygiene (the entire process should take at least 20 seconds) Foodhandlers must also wash their hands after: Using the restroom Handling raw meat, poultry, or seafood Touching the hair, face, or body Sneezing, coughing, or using a tissue Eating, drinking, smoking, or chewing gum or tobacco Handling chemicals that might affect food safety Taking out garbage Clearing tables or busing dirty dishes Touching clothing or aprons Handling money 2.2 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Proper handwashing 1. wet hands with water as hot as you can stand it 2. apply soap 3. scrub hands and arms for 15 seconds 4. rinse 5. dry with single use paper towel 6. use antiseptic

Bare-Hand Contact/ Illness Work Requirements Don’t use bare hands to handle ready-to-eat food. Foodhandlers who are sick can spread pathogens to food. Depending on the illness, they might not be able to work with food until they recover Sore throat, fever……………. Can’t work with food Vomitting, diarrhea………….. Shouldn’t be in operation Foodborne illness…………….. Shouldn’t be in operation 2.2 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Cross-Contamination The spread of pathogens from one surface or food to another is called cross-contamination. The steps that an operation takes to buy, store, prepare, cook, and serve food is known as the flow of food. See page 105 (figure 2.19 for order) All steps in the flow of food pose risks to food safety. prevent cross-contamination by separating raw food and ready-to-eat food. 2.3 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Time-Temperature Abuse Most foodborne illnesses happen because TCS food has been time-temperature abused. Food is time-temperature abused when it is cooked to the wrong internal temperature held at the wrong temperature or cooled or reheated incorrectly. Pathogens grow on food left out at 41˚F to 135˚F (temperature danger zone) If food is held in this range for four or more hours, throw it out. 2.3 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Thermometers Three types of thermometers: (must be calibrated) p. 107 bimetallic stemmed thermometer: checking both hot and cold food. Thermocouples measure temperatures through a metal probe and display them digitally. Immersion probe for liquids Surface probe for flat equipment (griddle) Penetration probe for internal temp. of food Air probe for temperature inside ref. or ovens Infrared thermometers: do not need to touch a surface to check its temperature, so there is less chance for cross-contamination and damage to food. 2.3 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Purchasing All the food used in a restaurant or foodservice operation should come from approved, reputable suppliers. Restaurants must make sure that their suppliers use good food safety practices along the supply chain (from growers to market) 2.3 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Receiving Use thermometers to check food temperatures Reject any items with packaging problems or expired use-by dates. Shell eggs must be received at 45 degrees or lower Milk and dairy products must be received at 45˚F or lower 2.3 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Storage Store all TCS food at 41°F or lower, or at 135°F or higher. Store food prepped in house no longer than 7 days use the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. Store raw meat separately from ready-to-eat food. Meat cooked to higher temperatures is always stored beneath meat cooked to lower temperatures seafood – top whole beef and pork ground meat whole and ground poultry - bottom 2.3 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Preparation Prepare food in small batches to avoid temperature abuse Remove from the refrigerator only as much food as can be prepared in a short period of time. Prepare food in small batches to avoid temperature abuse freezing doesn’t kill pathogens; when frozen food is thawed any pathogens in the food will begin to grow To reduce pathogen growth, never thaw food at room temperature. 2.3 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Cooking Cooking food to the correct temperature is critical for keeping it safe. Every TCS food has a minimum internal temperature that it must reach Once food reaches its minimum internal temperature, make sure that it stays at that temperature for a specific amount of time 165 degrees… poultry, stuffed meats 155 degrees… ground meat, eggs 145 degrees… seafood, all types of roasts 135 degrees… rice, beans Microwave all foods to 165 degrees 2.3 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Holding, Cooling, and Reheating If cooked food isn’t served immediately, it must be kept out of the temperature danger zone by cooling it quickly, reheating it correctly, and/or holding it correctly. To hold TCS food safely, hold hot food at 135°F or higher and hold cold food at 41°F or lower. Check temperatures every 4 hours Reheat all leftovers to 165°F The food needs to go from storage temperature to 165°F within two hours and then stay at that temperature for 15 seconds. 2.3 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Serving The biggest threat to food that is ready to be served is contamination. The service staff needs to be just as careful as the kitchen staff. Food that will be served off-site has to be packed in insulated food containers that can keep food out of the danger zone 2.3 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

The HACCP Plan A food safety management system is a group of procedures and practices that work together to prevent foodborne illness. A Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point, or HACCP, system identifies major hazards at specific points within a food’s flow through the operation. Conduct a hazard analysis. Determine critical control points (CCPs). Establish critical limits. Establish monitoring procedures. Identify corrective actions. Verify that the system works. Establish procedures for record keeping and documentation. 2.4 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

HACCP Principles (cont.) Principle 1: Conduct a Hazard Analysis: These hazards might be physical, chemical, or biological. Principle 2: Determine Critical Control Points (CCPs): CCP’s: points where hazard(s) can be prevented, eliminated, or reduced to safe levels. Principle 3: Establish Critical Limits: Critical limit is a temperature requirement for food 2.4 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

HACCP Principles (cont.) Principle 4: Establish Monitoring Procedures: monitor with thermometer Principle 5: Identify Corrective Actions: Corrective action—a step to fix the problem (reheat, throw out) Principle 6: Verify that the System Works: Evaluate it on a regular basis Principle 7: Establish Procedures for Record Keeping Keep all documentations of procedures. 2.4 Chapter 2 | Keeping Food Safe

Cleaning and Sanitizing Cleaning removes food and dirt from surface Sanitizing reduces pathogens on surface Cleaning and sanitizing a surface or dishes: Clean Rinse Sanitize Air-dry

Cleaning and sanitizing cont. All food contact surfaces need to be cleaned and sanitized at the following times: After use Before foodhandlers start working w/ a different kind of food Interruption of task and item being used may have been contaminated After 4 hrs. of continuous use

sanitizing Heat sanitizing: soak in 171 degree water for 30 seconds Chemical sanitizing: chlorine, iodine, or quats mixed with water; concentration must be correct

Cleaning and sanitizing in 3 compartment sink 1. rinse, scrape, soak items] 2. detergent solution in 1st sink 3. rinse in 2nd sink 4. sanitize in 3rd sink 5. air dry

Developing a cleaning program 1. What should be cleaned 2. Who should clean it 3. when it should be cleaned 4. how it should be cleaned