Food Safety Guru
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Food Safety Guru - The easiest way to get a Level 5 Food Hygiene Rating. For chefs who hate paperwork & just love to cook!
Food Safety Guru
4d ago
Tip of the Week
When declaring what allergens are in your food, it is important to include any ingredients that are listed on the manufacturer’s product label as “May Contain”
What does “May Contain” on a product label mean? A “May Contain” declaration on a product label means that, although the product does not contain the food item as an added ingredient, there is a possibility the main product has been contaminated by this ingredient during the production process. The manufacturer is informing you that there is a possibility that traces of the “May Contain” ingredient could be found in ..read more
Food Safety Guru
1w ago
Tip of the Week
Did you know that food handlers themselves are the greatest cause of food poisoning incidents in this country!
Bacteria and viruses passed from ill food handlers (or bacteria picked up from handling raw foods) can contaminate common touchpoints such as fridge handles, microwave handles, worktops, tap handles, etc. This can then contaminate other food handlers’ hands resulting in cross contamination in the kitchen.
Take care to wash hands before handling ready to eat foods. Ready to eat foods are the greatest risk of contaminated as they are without any further heat t ..read more
Food Safety Guru
2w ago
Tip of the Week
Defrost food under controlled temperature conditions in the fridge
Freezing food at -18°C will put any bacteria present on pause, but it will not generally kill it. So you must defrost under controlled temperatures in the fridge (keeping the food below 8°C) to ensure that any bacteria does not revive as the food defrosts.
Do not defrost in the kitchen or in the sink – always plan ahead and defrost overnight under controlled conditions in the fridge
Alert
Once defrosted, the food must be used/cooked within 48 hours
Weekly Food Fact
Did you know that ..read more
Food Safety Guru
3w ago
Tip of the Week
What is Coeliac Disease? Are you fully aware of this disease and how to avoid cross contamination of gluten in your kitchen?
Coeliac Disease
Coeliac disease is not a food allergy or an intolerance, but an autoimmune disease caused by a reaction to gluten.
Gluten is a protein found in grains, wheat, rye and barley. Some people with coeliac disease are also sensitive to oats. Gluten is also found in many favourite foods such as fish fingers, sausages, veggie sausages/burgers, gravies, sauces, stock cubes, soy sauce, salad dressings, soups and vinegar ..read more
Food Safety Guru
1M ago
Tip of the Week
Probe thermometer or Infrared temperature scanner? Which thermometer is best for each job and how to check calibration of thermometer?
Infrared Scanner Thermometer
Use an infrared Scanner Thermometer to take the surface temperature of food deliveries or cold products. This is a safe method of checking temperature of cold foods and food deliveries. It eliminates potential for cross contamination or for damaging packaging.
An infrared thermometer is also good for checking the temperature of chilled ready to eat foods in display fridges (sandwiches, salads ..read more
Food Safety Guru
1M ago
Tip of the Week
We recommend you have a Pest control contract in place with regular visits. Here are our tips on daily managing of pest problems
Daily Pest Management –
Store all foods off the floor
Store any opened or fresh produce in plastic lidded containers.
At the end of every day, clean down all worksurfaces and sweep the floor thoroughly, paying attention to sweeping under equipment
Remove all rubbish from kitchen daily and place outside in lidded bins
Cover all equipment at the end of the night (open mixers, etc)
Cover any crockery and cutlery with cling film if left ..read more
Food Safety Guru
1M ago
Tip of the Week
Here is a reminder of what an Environmental Health Inspector is looking for. Part 3 – Confidence in Management
Confidence in Management
Your Food Safety HACCP system. Are you up to date with the latest legislation and best practice? Are your policies and records up to date? Are you demonstrating that you do what you say you do?
Our Food Safety System is Primary Partnership Assured (approved throughout the UK) so it is important to show the Inspector your HACCP Policy at the beginning of your inspection.
Your Daily Food Safety Logs/Records – complete thes ..read more
Food Safety Guru
1M ago
Tip of the Week
Here is a reminder of what an Environmental Health Inspector is looking for – Part 2 Compliance with Structural Requirements
Compliance with Structural Requirements
The condition of the structure of the premises including cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation, equipment and other facilities.
Kitchen should be clean
No flaking paint
No bare wood or porous unwashable surfaces
Floor should be clean and intact with no food debris under/behind equipment
Walls should be clean and intact
Ceilings should be clean with no dust of cobwebs
Fly screens on opening wi ..read more
Food Safety Guru
2M ago
Tip of the Week
A kitchen inspection covers three main areas:–
Compliance with Food Hygiene and Safety Procedures
Compliance with Structural Requirements
Confidence in Management
The first area is Compliance with Food Hygiene and Safety Procedures. This covers the following:-
How hygienically the food is handled – how it is prepared, cooked, cooled, stored and what measures are taken to prevent food being contaminated.
Are staff washing hands in the designated hand wash sink
Is there hand wash soap and blue roll available at the hand wash sink
Any potential for cross contamination dur ..read more
Food Safety Guru
2M ago
Tip of the Week
Quick reminder of the Acrylamide Regulations
What is Acrylamide and what does the Acrylamide legislation 2017 mean to your kitchen practices?
Acrylamide is a chemical substance formed by a reaction between amino acids and sugars, typically in foods with high starch content, when cooked at high temperatures such as in frying, roasting, toasting and baking. Acrylamide is now considered to be a probable genotoxic carcinogen in humans and is produced when overcooking/browning/burning starchy foods such as potatoes and bread products. There is also potential acrylam ..read more