Tips to avoid E.coli cross contamination

As any kitchen worker knows, cross-contamination is among the leading causes of food poisoning. Harmful bacteria are easily spread to ready-to-eat foodstuffs either via direct contact with raw foods or through indirect contact by cleaning materials, contaminated surfaces, equipment or staff.

As experts in commercial kitchen cleaning, kitchen hygiene is our job. Contaminated food can cause serious illness among your customers, or even death.

Check out the following useful hints and tips to help prevent instances of food poisoning in your establishment.

Separation

Everyone knows that raw and ready-to-eat foods should be kept separate. Whilst this is effective in preventing direct contamination, wherever possible you should ensure that there are separate areas for storing and preparing ready-to-eat foods, as well as separate utensils, equipment and staff for dealing with them. This drastically reduces the risk of indirect contamination.

If you do not have the resources or space for separate preparation areas, ensure that all surfaces are thoroughly disinfected and cleaned prior to preparing or handling ready-to-eat foods on them.

Personal hygiene

It should go without saying how essential it is that staff follow effective practices in personal hygiene. They should wash their hands every time before handling ready-to-eat foods, after touching raw meat (or surfaces that have had contact with them) and every time they visit the toilet.

Training

Ensure that all food safety management systems have been brought up to date in your kitchen and that both kitchen and serving staff have been adequately trained to comply with them.

Cleaning and disinfection

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) strongly recommends the use of either a steam cleaner, sterilising sink or dishwasher for the cleaning and disinfecting of utensils and equipment. Whilst this can be carried out on your own, it is advisable to use the services of a professional, commercial kitchen cleaning company.

At Kitchen & Duct Cleaning Ltd, we are experts in steam cleaning commercial kitchens, ensuring that any trace of E.coli on the premises is effectively eliminated. When it comes to kitchen equipment cleaning you can never be too careful. Visit our website today, and get in touch for a free quote.

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