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Food Safety
By PK | June 6, 2008
Food Safety
Safe Food-handling Procedures
“DID YOU WASH YOUR HANDS?”
In this ever-increasing fast-paced life we live, more people rely on fast food, take-outs, and restaurants in which to eat. Recently I traveled between the east coast and west coast numerous times to be appalled at food safety issues that could potentially be quite dangerous to individuals. At one establishment, we watched as our waitress emptied the trash, pushing it down with her bare hands, then without washing them, served our food. At another, a food server still wearing her food service apron visited the ladies’ restroom. These actions alone could make you, your loved ones, your children, your elderly parents or grandparents….SICK. Some food safety violations can KILL you. And you may not even realize WHY! Individuals with the lowest tolerance are infants and young children, pregnant women, elderly people, people taking certain medications, and people who are seriously ill or who have recently had major surgery.
Obviously, these employees did not use safe food handling procedures. You are probably wondering, how could they have made me sick? What disease could have been transmitted? What are their symptoms? The waitress could have transmitted Staphylococcal Gastroenteritis, depending on the contents of the trash. My thoughts are if she didn’t wash her hands after handling trash, would she have washed her hands after touching her nose, her hair or face? Staphylococcal aureus is primarily found in humans, particularly in the hair, nose, throat, and sores. It is often transmitted from the food handler to consumers when the food handler did not wash their hands. The most common symptoms of Staphylococcal are nausea, vomiting and retching, and abdominal cramps.
In the case of the food server who did not remove her apron….well, this can get quite gross. When you use the toilet and flush afterwards, droplets of water fly through the air as far as six feet. Now, picture this food server who is wearing her apron. It is now contaminated with feces. And worse yet, she’s about to go back to work and prepare YOUR food. I must say, when I saw her in the ladies’ restroom wearing her apron, I immediately was appalled. But also, furthermost in my mind, since I had stopped during my traveling to get something to eat, was to remember her face. Because there was NO WAY I was going to order anything where she was working and serving or preparing food.
Now depending on the health of this individual or anyone else who used the restroom prior to her which we do not know, you can get a variety of serious diseases, such as Staphylococcal Gastroenteritis, Shigellosis, Hepatitis A or Norovirus.
Shigellosis, Hep A and Norovirus are primarily found in feces of humans. Their common symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps.
I currently hold certificates in Serv-Safe Food Safety and Foodservice Management Professional. I have worked in the Food Industry for over 25 years.
Next week: Food Safety
Time and Temperature Abuse
“HOW LONG HAS THAT FOOD BEEN THERE?”
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Topics: Food Safety |
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June 6th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
At least 97 sickened by Salmonella Tomatoes in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.