PERSONNEL 2c Hands not washed as needed PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE The hands are particularly important in transmitting foodborne disease-causing organisms. Food employees with dirty hands and/or fingernails may contaminate the food being prepared. Therefore, any activity which may contaminate the hands must be followed by thorough handwashing. Even seemingly healthy employees may serve as reservoirs for disease-causing microorganisms that are transmissible through food. Staphylococci bacteria, for example, can be found on the skin and in the mouth, throat, and nose of many healthy employees. The hands of employees can be contaminated by touching their nose, mouth, hair or other body parts. PERSONNEL 2g Bare hand contact PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE Touching ready-to-eat foods (i.e. foods that will not go through a further cooking process prior to serving) with bare hands increases the risk of the spread of foodborne illness. Ready-to-eat foods cannot be handled with bare hands but may be handled with gloved hands, tongs, or other utensils.
PERSONNEL 2d Poor hygienic practices PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE Retail food establishments must have a Health Department approved Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan in place when vacuum packageing or when conducting other forms of modified oxygen packaging (MAP). Foods not properly processed using MAP techniques are prone to the growth of botulism. All MAP processed foods must be held refrigerated at 41oF or less until cooking or service. Shelf life of MAP foods are not to exceed 10 days.
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