History and Background to HACCP

History and background of HACCP is more interesting that one might think it is. Indeed, HACCP is not new food safety system. It has been used in the food manufacturing industry since the 1960s and is widely accepted as the most effective way of preventing foodborne illness. It was conceived in the 1960s, and it was a collaborated effort between the Pillsbury Company, NASA, and the U.S. Army Laboratories with the objective to provide safe food for space expeditions.

 

What is Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, or HACCP

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, or HACCP is a systematic preventive approach to food safety. As a matter of fact, it considers biological, chemical, and physical hazards in production processes that can cause the finished product to be unsafe. As a result, HACCP designs measures to reduce food risks to a safe level.

 

Short History and Background to HACCP

Space food is a type of food product created and processed for consumption by astronauts in outer space. The food has specific requirements of providing balanced nutrition for individuals working in space. At the same time, it has to be easy and safe to store, prepare and consume in the machinery-filled weightless environments of manned spacecraft.

It is never good to contract food poisoning. Not to mention getting sick in space!

Since then, HACCP has been recognized internationally as a logical tool for adapting traditional inspection methods to a modern, science-based, food safety system. Based on risk-assessment, HACCP plans allow both industry and government to allocate their resources efficiently by establishing and auditing safe food production practices.

 

Application of HACCP

HACCP has been increasingly applied to industries other than food, such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. This method, which in effect seeks to plan out unsafe practices based on science, differs from traditional “produce and sort” quality control methods that do nothing to prevent hazards from occurring and must identify them at the end of the process. Of course, HACCP is focused only on the health safety issues of a product and not the quality of the product, yet HACCP principles are the basis of most food quality and safety assurance systems.

For most of us, term HACCP sounds scary and confusing, ‘What does this all mean?’ we often wonder. In simple terms, HACCP involves controlling the safety of ingredients and supplies coming into food business and what is done with them thereafter.

HACCP involves:

  • Identifying what can go wrong.
  • Planning to prevent it.
  • Making sure we are doing it!

 

Benefits of HACCP

HACCP provides businesses with a cost effective system for control of food safety from ingredients through production, storage and distribution to sale and service to the final consumer. The preventive approach of HACCP not only improves food safety management but also complements other quality management systems.

The main benefits of HACCP are:

  • Saves your business money in the long run.
  • Avoids you poisoning your customers.
  • Food safety standards increase.
  • Ensures you are compliant with the law.
  • Food quality standards increase.
  • Organises your process to produce safe food.
  • Organises your staff promoting teamwork and efficiency.
  • Due diligence defence in court.

Since April 1998, food businesses in Ireland have been required by law to have a food safety management system based on the principles of HACCP.

Online Food Safety Training

Please remember – it is a legal requirement that staff who are involved in a food environment are trained and/or supervised commensurate with their work activity!

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Food Safety (HACCP) courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

eLearn Safety – Online Health and Safety Training

eLearn Safety – Online Health and Safety Training

Difference Between Food Allergy and Food Intolerance

Difference between food allergy and food intolerance is significant. When someone has a food allergy, their immune system wrongly sees the food as hostile and the body’s defence mechanism springs into action. This produces a range of symptoms which can vary from mild itching to severe breathing difficulties or even shock. These symptoms usually happen immediately after eating the food. Unfortunately, in extreme cases, food allergy can have fatal consequences.

When someone is intolerant to a food, the immune system is usually not involved. In this case, the symptoms take much longer to develop and are generally not life-threatening. However, food intolerance can adversely affect long-term health.

 

Are food allergy and intolerance forms of food poisoning?

No. In a case of food poisoning, someone has become ill due to eating food that is contaminated with harmful bacteria or toxins. Contaminated food should not be eaten by anyone. With a food allergy or intolerance, the offending food is safe to eat for the majority of people. However, it triggers an unhealthy reaction in some people. For example, peanuts are nutritious and tasty foods enjoyed by a great many people. However, for someone with a peanut allergy they can be very dangerous.

It is very important that a food hypersensitivity (food allergy, food intolerance or coeliac disease) is diagnosed medically. Self-diagnosis is extremely risky and is not a relevant form of diagnosis. Many of the symptoms associated with these conditions are common to a number of other illnesses. It is important to remember that food poisoning from eating contaminated food, and food aversion where someone just doesn’t like a particular food (but will not be ill if they eat it) are not food hypersensitivities!

If you diagnose yourself, you may cut out of your diet certain foods that are safe and nutritious. At the same time continuing to include foods that may be risky. If you think you have a food hypersensitivity, you need to talk to your General Practitioner.

 

What happens in an allergic reaction?

Essentially, when the immune system reacts to a food ingredient during an allergic reaction, it triggers the release of chemicals such as histamine from cells in the body. This causes some or all of the following symptoms:

  • itching or swelling in the mouth and throat,
  • hives anywhere on the body,
  • runny nose and eyes,
  • reddening of the skin,
  • feeling sick,
  • diarrhoea and/or vomiting.

If the reaction is severe, other symptoms can occur including:

  • a sudden feeling of weakness (caused by a drop in blood pressure),
  • breathing problems (your throat might start to swell up or close).

This is an anaphylactic reaction, also known as anaphylactic shock, and is life threatening. It requires immediate treatment by adrenaline injection followed by expert medical assistance. Usually the symptoms happen within seconds or minutes of being exposed to the food but the reaction can be delayed for several hours.

 

What are the symptoms of an intolerance to a food?

The symptoms of an intolerance to food include those of an upset digestion e.g., diarrhoea, bloating, upset stomach, etc. Weight loss, lethargy or anaemia can occur as well as migraine headaches and psychological effects such as confusion and even depression. However, these usually manifest over longer periods of time as well as a variety of other symptoms that can result from poor nutrition. In some cases the symptoms of a food intolerance resemble those of a mild allergic reaction.

Many of the symptoms of a food intolerance are also associated with other disorders of the digestive system such as Crohn’s Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

 

What foods cause an allergic reaction?

Although peanut and nut allergies are probably best known due to the many media reports into related fatalities, any food can cause an allergic response in a susceptible person. To date, allergies to over 180 foods have been documented worldwide. Most of these are very rare and some are associated with particular populations or regions of the world. Cod fish allergy is common in Scandinavia, as is rice allergy in China and celery allergy in France. These allergies are less common on the island of Ireland where, like other Western countries, the more frequently encountered allergies include those to peanuts, tree nuts, egg, crustaceans, milk and wheat.

 

What foods can people be intolerant to?

There is also a wide variety of foods associated with food intolerance. The most frequently encountered in an island of Ireland context include milk (lactose intolerance) and gluten (coeliac disease, wheat intolerance) but also certain food additives such as Monosodium glutamate (MSG).

A person with lactose intolerance cannot digest milk properly (lactose is a milk sugar). Lactose cannot be absorbed by the body resulting in symptoms such as cramps and diarrhoea.

A person with coeliac disease reacts to gluten which is a protein found in foods such as wheat, rye, barley and oats. This results in damage to the gut with effects on nutritional status and general wellbeing.

Some people have reported symptoms such as flushing, temperature increase and headache after eating the flavour enhancer MSG. These symptoms are also known as ‘Chinese Restaurant Syndrome’, related to the fact that MSG is a frequent ingredient in many Chinese dishes.

Other foods to which susceptible people are known to react include red wine, cheese, caffeine and salicylates which are found in certain vegetables, herbs, spices, fruits and chocolate.

 

Can you be allergic or intolerant to more than one food?

It is possible to have allergies to more than one thing. In addition, it is also possible to be intolerant to certain things and allergic to other things. It all depends on how similar the offending chemicals are in the food or pollen or whatever material you are allergic to. This is called cross-reactivity, so if you have an allergy to a food, you can react to another substance (not necessarily another food) if it contains a protein like the protein that causes your allergy in the first place.

For example:

  • Cross-reactivity may result in someone who is allergic to prawns also being allergic to shrimps, crab and lobster.
  • Quite often peanut allergic people are also allergic to lupin flour.
  • Hen’s egg is cross-reactive with other eggs and cow’s milk is cross-reactive with milk from goats and sheep.
  • Someone with a wheat allergy can also be allergic to rye and grass pollen.
  • Some cross reactions are less obvious: an allergy to house dust mites may lead to an allergy to shellfish (molluscs and crustaceans) while an allergy to latex rubber increases your risk of becoming allergic to certain fruits and vegetables.
  • Those who are allergic to pollen, particularly birch or olive pollen, may develop allergic symptoms when they eat hazelnuts, apples, cherries, pears or carrots.

Find out more here: safefood, or here: The Food Safety Authority of Ireland. In addition, you can learn about safe food handling by completing fully online food safety courses developed by eLearn Safety.

 

Online Food Safety Training

Please remember – it is a legal requirement that staff who are involved in a food environment are trained and/or supervised commensurate with their work activity!

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Food Safety (HACCP) courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

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eLearn Safety – Online Health and Safety Training

How Do You Stop Food Bacteria Growing

How do you stop food bacteria growing is a difficult question. However, the answer is more straightforward than one would think. Bacteria that cause food poisoning grow at temperatures between 5°C and 63°C (the Danger Zone). This is above refrigeration temperatures and below cooking temperatures. Bacteria grow best at warm temperatures, approximately 25°C to 40°C. By adopting proactive safe food handling practices, this problem can be successfully addressed.

 

How Do You Stop Food Bacteria Growing – Basics

The basics of how to do you stop food bacteria growing are very simple. If food is kept out of the danger zone, either cold at refrigeration temperatures less than 5°C, or hot at greater than 63°C, most bacteria will stop growing, although they do not die. Therefore, food should be kept hot in a hot holding cabinet or kept cold in a refrigerated display unit to prevent any bacteria that may be present on the food from multiplying. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use on the label.

 

Important Guidelines

The following is a list of guidelines that should always be observed:

  • Never leave food out on counter tops at room temperature, more than two hours is too long.
  • Food should be kept in a hot or cold display unit and not left sitting on top where customers can contaminate the food by handling or sneezing.
  • You should have sufficient space to carry out food preparation safely. There should also be sufficient space for food storage.
  • Keep hot food hot!
  • Keep cold food cold!
  • Never use food past its ‘use-by date’ as it could be unsafe, plus it is illegal to do so. Food can be used after its ‘best-before’ date provided that the food is still in a fully acceptable condition. Where this is done however, it is strongly recommended to indicate to the consumer that the food is past its ‘best-before’ date.
  • Always ensure good stock rotation for all foods whether stored in a hot cabinet, fridge or dry goods store.

 

Common Food Poisoning Bacteria

The most common food poisoning bacteria:

  • Salmonella bacteria. Salmonella are most commonly found in poultry but are also found in pig meat and other foods. Salmonella food poisoning is mainly associated with eating contaminated chicken and eggs and their products.
  • Campylobacter has relatively recently been recognised as causing food poisoning and now it exceeds Salmonella as the leading cause of bacterial food poisoning in Ireland. It is present in a wide range of animals and birds and is commonly found on raw poultry meat.
  • E. coli O157 and related E. coli are found in the gut of cattle and is mainly associated with eating undercooked minced beef, e.g. beef burgers, but cross contamination from raw meat can transfer these bacteria to other foods. They can cause serious illness and may even result in death.
  • Staphylococcus aureus is typically found on the hands and in and around the nose of healthy adults. During food preparation food handlers can easily transfer it on to food.

You can find further useful information on how you can stop the spread of food poisoning bacteria and other food safety relevant information on the FSAI website. In addition, you can learn about safe food handling by completing fully online food safety courses developed by eLearn Safety.

 

Online Food Safety Training

Please remember – it is a legal requirement that staff who are involved in a food environment are trained and/or supervised commensurate with their work activity!

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Food Safety (HACCP) courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

 

eLearn Online Health and Safety TrainingeLearn Online Health and Safety Training

Who can be Described as a Food Handler?

According to some reports, many food businesses are unsure who can be described as a food handler.

A Food Handler is anyone who works in any type of business that handles/stores food whether they are full-time or part-time members of staff, seasonal or occasional workers or voluntary staff members.

 

Who can be Described as a Food Handler – Required Competencies

All food handling employees should be competent to handle/manage food depending on:

  • their level of responsibility,
  • whether they work in a high or low-risk area, and
  • the length of time they have been working in a food handling business.

 

Food Handling Levels as per FSAI Guidelines – Level 1

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has developed food safety training guidelines divided into three levels. We’ll cover the Level 1 here.

The Level 1 specifies the standards expected of employees who have been working for less than three months in a food business. This level is split into two stages.

  • Stage I outlines what all employees must be able to demonstrate before they start handling food in food handling premises.
  • Stage II outlines what all employees must be able to demonstrate within 1 month of starting to work in food handling premises.

So Level 1, Stage I describes the food safety skills required of staff before they handle food in any food handling premises. Even though food handling staff have had training at this stage, they will require supervision to ensure that they are demonstrating good food safety practices.

You can compare the food safety training with getting a driving licence. The training is the same as driving licence – you need to know the rules before going to the road, or in the case of food safety training, to the kitchen. You need this foreknowledge, but once on the road, or in the kitchen, you must obey traffic signs and road laws, i.e. food safety rules for safe food handling. The training is just a permit to go on the road/to the kitchen and once there you have to follow strict rules to make sure that your environment is safe for you and for those around you.

 

Essential Food Safety Skills at Level 1

The following is a list of the 9 food safety skills that food handling employees should be able to demonstrate before starting to work in a food handling business:

  1. Wear and maintain uniform/protective clothing hygienically.
  2. Maintain a high standard of hand-washing.
  3. Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene.
  4. Demonstrate correct hygiene practice if suffering from ailments/ illnesses that may affect food safety.
  5. Avoid unhygienic practices in a food operation.
  6. Demonstrate safe food handling practice.
  7. Maintain staff facilities in a hygienic condition.
  8. Obey food safety signs.
  9. Keep work area clean.

Having been trained to Stage 1 before starting work, Stage II provides information on what your employees need to know after they have been working in food handling premises for a month.

 

Additional Food Safety Skills at Level 1

The following is a list of the 11 food safety skills to be demonstrated by food handling employees at this stage:

  1. Demonstrate legal responsibility in ensuring safe food for the consumer.
  2. Recognise how food can be made unsafe by biological, chemical, physical or food allergen hazards.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of cross-contamination and the hygiene practice necessary to prevent it.
  4. Explain the difference between high and low-risk activities.
  5. Avoid unnecessary handling of food, food utensils and surfaces.
  6. Record the temperature of food as required.
  7. Keep appropriate food safety records.
  8. Keep pests out of the food operation and operate a satisfactory waste disposal system.
  9. Take action when aware of unhygienic practices that may put the safety of food at risk.
  10. Co-operate with authorised enforcement officers.
  11. Check deliveries appropriately.

Remember! There is a legal requirement – Regulation (EC) 852/2004 that all food handlers undertake food safety training commensurate to their duties.

 

Online Food Safety Training

Please remember – it is a legal requirement that staff who are involved in a food environment are trained and/or supervised commensurate with their work activity!

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Food Safety (HACCP) courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

eLearn-who-can-be-described-as-a-food-handler

eLearn Online Health and Safety Training

Prerequisite Programmes (PRPs)

All food handling businesses must have in place Prerequisite Programmes (PRPs). PRPs are good hygiene practices that are the basic conditions and activities necessary to maintain a hygienic environment. In addition, any food handling business must also consider maintenance of the cold chain and allergen control when putting PRPs in place.

 

Complying with the HACCP Requirements

Depending on the complexity of a food business operation, PRPs may be all that is needed to comply with the HACCP requirement. Furthermore, it may be possible to control hazards with PRPs alone. For example, if a food business carries out low-risk activities, all the hazards may be controlled by the Prerequisite Programmes (PRPs). In this case, there is no need for the application of a full food safety management system based on the principles of HACCP.

For more complex food businesses that involve the preparation, manufacturing or processing of food, PRPs are the basis of a Food Safety Management System (FSMS). The Food Safety Management System has to be based on the seven principles of HACCP. A PRPs can be implemented by:

  1. following a recognised guide to good practice appropriate to a food business, or
  2. developing procedures based on the principles of HACCP if required.

 

Hazards Controlled by Prerequisite Programmes (PRPs)

The majority of hazards can be controlled by PRPs. These can be the foundation for the HACCP based procedures to implement. Once PRPs are in place, your HACCP based procedures will focus on controlling the steps in a business. These are critical to ensure the preparation of safe food.

For more information on the various options for complying with the HACCP requirement see Guidance Note No. 11 Assessment of HACCP Compliance (Revision 2).

 

Prerequisites Include Where Appropriate

Prerequisite Programmes (PRPs) include the following:

  • Premises and Structure – e.g.: Design and lay-out of workspace allowing for one-direction production flow. Sufficient lighting especially in food preparation and inspection areas. Suitable employee facilities. Hand-washing facilities;. External and interior construction of walls, floors, doors.
  • Plant and Equipment – e.g. refrigeration services/systems; equipment fit for purpose operated in accordance with its instructions and accessible for cleaning.
  • Technical Maintenance and Calibration.
  • Cleaning and Sanitation.
  • Zoning – e.g. physical separation of activities to prevent cross contamination with allergens or biological hazards. For example, harmful microorganisms from raw to cooked food.
  • Procedures to Control and Prevent Physical and Chemical Contamination from the Production Environment – e.g. what to do in the case of breakage of glass, hard plastic etc.
  • Supplier Control – e.g. supplier selection and agreement on specifications for raw materials, additives, processing aids, packaging material, food contact material.
  • Services – e.g. water, ventilation, electricity, gas etc.
  • Storage, Distribution and Transport (including temperature control).
  • Waste Management.
  • Pest Control – i.e. prevent entry of pests and implement suitable pest control programs.
  • Personnel Hygiene and Fitness to Work – e.g. procedures for personnel suffering with gastro-intestinal infections, hepatitis, wounds or other relevant health problems.
  • Training and Supervision – it is a legal requirement that staff who are involved in a food environment are trained and/or supervised commensurate with their work activity.
  • Working instructions – i.e. provision of clear and simple work instructions which are visible or easily accessible.

 

Online Food Safety Training

Please remember – it is a legal requirement that staff who are involved in a food environment are trained and/or supervised commensurate with their work activity!

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Food Safety (HACCP) courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

eLearn Online Health and Safety Training

eLearn Online Health and Safety Training

Importance of Food Safety Training

Importance of food safety training in any food handling business is significant. Both consumers and those working in the hospitality and retail sectors are becoming more aware of the importance of food safety and implementation of HACCP based procedures. Part of the reason for this is when there is an incident of food poisoning, a large number of people may be affected resulting in serious legal issues, negative publicity and loss of livelihood. Owing to this, some businesses might be forced to close down.

 

Why is it Important to Train People in Safe Food Handling

It is the legal responsibility of everyone involved in the food sector to carry out their food-related activities in a hygienic manner. This applies to all food handling areas. In summary, these include food service, food wholesaling, food retailing and food processing. Each year there are 4000 – 5000 reported cases of food poisoning in the island of Ireland. However, the actual figure may be considerably higher than this. This is owing to many people with mild symptoms do not report these symptoms. To illustrate, the FSAI report from 2022 states that there were 4,058 complaints from consumers in 2022. About 1,200 were relating to unfit food and more than 1,100 each due to poor hygiene standards and suspected food poisoning. In other words, food poisoning concerns almost doubled from the 622 received in 2021.

Food poisoning, also called foodborne illness, is illness caused by eating contaminated food. Infectious organisms, including bacteria, viruses and parasites, or their toxins are the most common causes of food poisoning. Infectious organisms or their toxins can contaminate food at any point of processing or production.

To learn more about food poisoning and how to prevent it, the eLearn Safety has developed fully online food safety courses. These courses are designed to introduce participants to food safety and hygiene issues. All courses are based on the training criteria set down by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s Guide to Food Safety Training at appropriate level.

On completion of this food safety training course, participants will be able to understand their requirements under Irish food safety legislation as well as following best work practices.

 

Consequences of Poor Food Handling Practices

Food poisoning symptoms, which can start within hours of eating contaminated food, often include nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Most often, food poisoning is mild and resolves without treatment. However, some people need to go to the hospital. In addition, food poisoning is especially serious and potentially life-threatening for young children, pregnant women and their fetuses, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

In any case, to prevent food poisoning, these essential principles should be adhered to:

  • Wash your hands, utensils and food surfaces often.
  • Keep raw foods separate from ready-to-eat foods.
  • Cook foods to a safe temperature.
  • Refrigerate or freeze perishable foods promptly.
  • Defrost food safely.
  • If in doubt, throw it out.

Remember, it is a legal requirement that staff who are involved in a food environment are trained and/or supervised commensurate with their work activity!

 

Online Food Safety Training

Please remember – it is a legal requirement that staff who are involved in a food environment are trained and/or supervised commensurate with their work activity!

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Food Safety (HACCP) courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

eLearn Online Health and Safety Training

eLearn Online Health and Safety Training

 

Selling or Advertising Food Online

Selling or advertising food online has become a norm nowadays. However, before anyone decides to sell or advertise food online they have to make sure to research any relevant food safety laws.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has developed a Selling or Advertising Food Online leaflet with essential information for all those who are selling or advertising food online (including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages). Although published in 2017, this is a relevant guide that lists the mandatory information you must provide to the consumer when selling food online.

 

Selling or Advertising Food Online Guide

The guide makes it clear that if a food business sells or advertises food online, they are responsible for the food information provided to their customer and must comply with relevant food law. The guide goes on to highlight key areas which food businesses selling or advertising online should address, including:

  • Registering your food business.
  • Provision of food information to consumers.
  • Displaying mandatory food information.
  • Making claims about food.
  • Temperature control.
  • Traceability.
  • Product recall.
  • Notifying food supplements to the FSAI.
  • Consumer protection law.

Although this leaflet focuses on the rules for selling food online, the rules also apply to food sold or advertised by any other means of distance communication.

 

Meeting the Requirements

Any food supplied through distance selling must meet the same information requirements as food sold in a physical premise e.g. a shop. The Regulation defines “means of distance communication” as “any means which, without the simultaneous physical presence of the supplier and the consumer, may be used for the conclusion of a contract between those parties”.

Common methods of selling food by means of distance communication include:

  • Websites
  • Social media pages
  • Online market places
  • Mail order
  • Telephone
  • Text message
  • Catalogues
  • Newspapers
  • Magazines
  • Leaflets

 

If you sell food online, you must comply with the relevant food law. The main purpose of food law is to ensure that food available for consumers to buy is safe. It also requires food businesses to provide consumers with the necessary information about food, so that they can make an informed choice at the time of purchase. Food law prohibits the use of misleading information.

To find about requirements for selling or advertising food online please refer to this Selling or Advertising Food Online leaflet published by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

 

Online Food Safety Training

Please remember – it is a legal requirement that staff who are involved in a food environment are trained and/or supervised commensurate with their work activity!

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Food Safety (HACCP) courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

eLearn Online Health and Safety Training

eLearn Online Health and Safety Training

Storing Food After Delivery

Storing food after delivery is very important when food safety is considered and the food should be stored as quickly as it can be put away. For instance, in a previous eLearn Safety blog post Receiving Food Delivery from 19th January 2024 we talked about the importance of proper and planned handling of food deliveries. Most importantly, it is very important to note that once the food is accepted from delivery operators it should be unpacked from the outside packaging before storage. In addition, frozen foods should always be stored first. It is extremely important to remember that raw meat and ready-to-eat foods should be handled and stored separately. All food handling staff should be competent and trained in safe food handling. An easy and convenient way to achieve this is by taking one of eLearn Safety fully online Food Safety courses.

 

Plan for Storing Food After Delivery

Never tightly pack food in storage areas. For instance, food should always be kept at least 15cm above the floor and at least 5cm away from the walls. This is because it will make cleaning and pest inspections easier.

In addition, keep records of all food temperatures. If you observe high temperatures, report this immediately to the Supervisor/Manager. This can be the result of a delay in storing food, allowing it to warm up to room temperature. Such delays can be avoided by having allocated time slots for staff to store food correctly.

 

Contamination is Dangerous

Food contamination is very dangerous! You must remember to:

  • Keep raw meats in a separate refrigerator or on the bottom shelf. This is to avoid contaminating anything below.
  • Clean soil from vegetables before storage as soil can contain dangerous bacteria.
  • Check all seals of fridge and freezer doors are working properly and are clean. Fridges and freezers should be checked every day and detailed, stringent temperature records maintained. If you are using a walk-in freezer – always make sure that the door is closed properly behind you.

 

Stock Rotation

Stock rotation is important when we talk about storing food after delivery. Therefore, you should always practice a FIFO system (First In First Out). In addition, you should label each item so that anyone who would check for these items knows when it was delivered and its shelf life. For instance, never sell food that has passed its Use-By date and make sure that all the correct storage requirements are followed.

For additional information about Use-By and Best-Before dates please check eLearn Safety blog entry Shelf-life of Food Products from 10th March 2023. In addition, you might find some very useful information on Teagasc website and their page Shelf Life of Food Products from 9th January 2022.

 

Basic Storage Rules

Always remember to:

  • Store all frozen food at below -18°.
  • Store all fresh food at below 5°.
  • Store dry goods quickly.
  • Keep fridge and/or freezer doors open for the shortest time possible.
  • Immediately report a fridge or freezer malfunction. A breakdown can be an expensive and serious food safety hazard.

 

Online Food Safety Training

Please remember – it is a legal requirement that staff who are involved in a food environment are trained and/or supervised commensurate with their work activity!

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Food Safety (HACCP) courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

Receiving Food Delivery

Receiving food delivery is an important activity in any food handling business. This is to ensure that all food is received fresh and safe when it enters the foodservice operation. All food deliveries must be moved to proper storage as quickly as possible.

 

Getting Ready for Receiving Food Delivery

Clean designated receiving tables must be provided for all food. It is essential to keep raw meats away from ready-to-eat food such as salads, breads, etc. If the food is not separated, dangerous contamination can occur. It is very easy in a busy environment for delivered foods to come into contact with each other. This is why great care must be taken at all times to prevent this. Always use separate probes for different types of food. For example, never use a probe that was just used for raw meat, such as chicken, to measure the temperature of a ready-to-eat food. Never bring packaging material into the kitchen. It may have become contaminated outside.

Record and check all food coming into the kitchen. All personnel responsible for receiving and storing must be fully trained and empowered to reject any food that is not fit for use. eLearn Safety offers an easy and convenient way to train your staff in basic safe food handling through fully online food safety courses. The Food Safety (HACCP) Level 1 is an ideal starting point! This course is designed to introduce participants to food safety and hygiene issues. It is based on the training criteria set down by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s Guide to Food Safety Training Level 1.

 

Things to watch Out For

It is important to check every delivery before the food is accepted.

Always check the following:

  1. Inspect the delivery truck when it arrives to ensure that it is clean, free of putrid odors. The truck must be also organised to prevent cross-contamination. Be sure refrigerated foods are delivered on a refrigerated truck.
  2. Check the interior temperature of refrigerated trucks.
  3. Confirm vendor name, day and time of delivery. Verify driver’s identification before accepting delivery. If the driver’s name is different from what is indicated on the delivery schedule, contact the vendor immediately.
  4. Check frozen foods to ensure that they are all frozen solid and show no signs of thawing and refreezing. For example, look for the presence of large ice crystals or liquids on the bottom of cartons.
  5. Check the temperature of refrigerated foods.
  6. Check dates of milk, eggs, and other perishable goods to ensure safety and quality.
  7. Check the integrity of food packaging.
  8. Check the cleanliness of crates and other shipping containers before accepting products. Always reject foods that are shipped in dirty crates.

The above list is an important practice – not for safety alone, but for quality as well.

 

Rejecting Foods

Food must be always rejected if the food packaging is damaged, there are signs of pests and relevant food temperatures are not observed. A record of all received and returned food should be kept.  Similarly, it is important to store food as quickly as it can be put away. Above all, always remove outside packaging and store frozen food first. In addition, raw meat should be transported and stored separately from ready-to-eat foods. Never accept a delivery that is left outside of your premises and exposed to elements! Always receive food deliveries directly from a delivery person!

 

Online Food Safety Training

Please remember – it is a legal requirement that staff who are involved in a food environment are trained and/or supervised commensurate with their work activity!

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Food Safety (HACCP) courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie