Food hygiene is increasingly becoming a cause for concern amongst members of the UK public when dining out.
In fact, according to a survey by Checkit, 75% of diners refuse to visit restaurants that have experienced food hygiene issues.
Dee Roche, Marketing Director at Checkit.net said: “It doesn’t matter if you are a Michelin starred restaurant or a local takeaway – consumers will not tolerate poor food hygiene and will vote with their feet if a restaurant has been implicated in a food hygiene incident.”
So what can you do to ensure you protect customers and obtain a strong Food Hygiene Rating in the process? There’s a lot to take into account but the key things to consider can be summarised as ‘the 4 Cs’. They are:
- Cross-contamination
- Cleaning
- Chilling
- Cooking
Let’s go through each consideration in greater detail…
Cross-contamination
Cross-contamination occurs when bacteria is spread between different foods, surfaces or pieces of equipment. It’s one of the most common causes of food poisoning and can lead to illness and even death.
Cross-contamination can also occur when allergens are not handled correctly. If an allergy sufferer was to consume a type of food they were allergic to, the impact could be fatal.
Chilling
When a food hygiene officer inspects your business, they’ll check that you’re storing food properly and at the correct temperatures. By following official guidelines and chilling foods effectively, you can help to stop the spread of bacteria.
Cooking
In order to protect customers and abide by government legislation, you’ll be expected to cook foods thoroughly and serve them at the correct temperatures.
Cleaning
When managing a food business, it’s vital to ensure that regular and effective cleaning takes place. By cleaning the kitchen and service areas effectively, you can stop harmful bacteria from spreading and causing illness.
Ensure every member of staff is aware of their responsibilities and understands the importance of cleaning and disinfecting food areas.
If cleaning your premises takes up a significant amount of time, it may be worth investing in industrial cleaning equipment to speed up the process and ensure the place is as clean as possible. A steam cleaner is just one example of a piece of equipment that can reduce the amount of effort required to maintain good hygiene in your kitchen. It will dramatically reduce cleaning time and improve results.
If you’re concerned about the cost of buying such a costly piece of equipment outright, steam cleaner hire could be worth considering. You’ll gain fast access to the cleaning tools you need without throwing your budget off track with a large expense. To learn more about hiring professional cleaning equipment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at Clean Sweep.
