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. FOOD TEMPERATURE CONTROL 3f Food thermometer not available PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE Most food poisonings are associated with foods held at temperatures between 41oF and 140oF for extended periods of time. Health Department inspections stress temperature control of potentially hazardous food. Because food temperature control is so critical in assuring food safety all foods establishment must have and must use an accurate thermometer to check food temperatures. Food product thermometers are to be scaled 0—220oF. They must be accurate to +/-2oF. Food workers need to verify that foods are being properly cooled, that they are reheated to 165oF, that they are cooked to the required temperatures, that they are held hot above 140oF, etc. by using a thermometer. SANITATION RINSE 4b Mechanical PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE All equipment, utensils and food contact surfaces must be properly washed and then sanitized to minimize food contamination. Washing is the removal of food residue or soil from surfaces. Sanitization is the application of heat or chemicals on cleaned surfaces that results in a 99.999% reduction of disease-causing microorganisms. There are many different types of sanitizers that can be used in food establishments. The most common include: hot water between 165oF and 180oF, chlorine mixed at a concentration of 50 ppm, quaternary ammonia mixed at a concentration of 200 ppm, and iodine mixed at a concentration of 12.5 ppm. If a dishmachine is provided in a food establishment it must be a commercial type that has been shown to effectively sanitize. Most commercial dishmachines sanitize equipment and utensils by the accumulation of heat from contact with 180oF hot water or by contact with chemical sanitizers such as 50 ppm chlorine. SANITATION RINSE 4c In place PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE All equipment, utensils and food contact surfaces must be properly washed and then sanitized to minimize food contamination. Washing is the removal of food residue or soil from surfaces. Sanitization is the application of heat or chemicals on cleaned surfaces that results in a 99.999% reduction of disease-causing microorganisms. There are many different types of sanitizers that can be used in food establishments. The most common include: hot water between 165oF and 180oF, chlorine mixed at a concentration of 50 ppm, quaternary ammonia mixed at a concentration of 200 ppm, and iodine mixed at a concentration of 12.5 ppm. Establishments will often have equipment that needs to be washed and sanitized, but is too large to fit into warewashing sinks or dishmachines, or is not designed to be submerged in water. This equipment must be washed and sanitized “in place”. Surfaces must be washed with a detergent solution to remove food residue, then rinsed free of detergents with clean water and then sanitized with an approved sanitizer. TESTING DEVICES 11c Chemical test kits not provided; inaccessible PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE The temperature of the wash and rinse water is a critical factor effecting cleaning and sanitizing of equipment and utensils. It is important that warewashing machines and high-temperature three-compartment warewashing sinks are therefore equipped with accurate thermometers to measure water temperatures. Sanitzer test kits must also be provided and used by food workers to ensure that the concentration of any chemical sanitizers being used are correct. Warewashing machines are required to operate at specific water flow pressures. Water flow pressure can greatly effect how well a dishmachine will sanitize. Low water flow pressure results in inadequate spray patterns and incomplete coverage of the equipment and utensils being washed. Excessive flow pressures will atomize water droplets and again result in incomplete coverage. A pressure gauge installed on the dishmachine’s final rinse line allows workers to monitor the water flow pressure of a dishmachine.
PEST CONTROL 7c Evidence of animals on the premises PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE Live animals can carry disease-causing microorganisms that can be transmitted to humans through direct or indirect contamination of food and food contact surfaces. Dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and other types of live animals are therefore not allowed in food establishments. Guide and service animals accompanying blind, visual or hearing impaired or otherwise physically disabled persons are permitted in customer and office areas.
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