Want a break from reading about how everything’s changing in the restaurant industry? You’re in luck. What has not changed is the way we should clean, sanitize and disinfect everything around us. It’s at the heart of food safety.
Now more than ever, your guests want to know that you know. This year Tork is again a proud sponsor of National Food Safety Month. This year’s theme is Know Safe & Show Safe. But it’s more than a theme. It’s a mantra that should feel second nature to all restaurant and foodservice workers during food safety month and beyond.
Your guests are looking for a dining experience where they can leave their worries behind. They want your food and service transport them to a joyous place. It’s a magical mindset that may be hard for some guests to get back into at first, but you can help get them by showing them that their safety is top priority. Communicate your care by showing them you clean, you sanitize and you disinfect properly. Show that you know when it needs to happen, where it needs to happen and how it’s done.
What is it?
Cleaning → Removes food and dirt from a surface
Sanitizing → Reduces pathogens (bacteria, for example) on surfaces to safe levels
Disinfecting → Removes all microorganisms from a surface
When does it need to happen?
All food-contact surfaces need to be cleaned and sanitized at these times:
- When switching to a different food (e.g., tenderizing raw chicken to chopping lettuce)
- After use
- After handling different raw Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) fruits and vegetables (e.g., between cutting melons and leafy greens)
- Any time there is an interruption during a task
- After four hours if items are in constant use
Learn more about tools and tips for cleaning & sanitizing from Tork
How do you do it?
Cleaning and sanitizing surfaces
- Scrape or remove food bits from the surface. Use the correct cleaning tool, such as a nylon brush or pad, or a cloth towel.
- Wash the surface. Prepare the cleaning solution with an approved cleaner. Wash the surface with the correct cleaning tool, such as a cloth towel.
- Rinse the surface with clean water and the correct cleaning tool, such as a cloth towel.
- Sanitize the surface. Use the correct sanitizing solution.
Learn more about tools and tips for cleaning & sanitizing from Tork