Showing posts with label Hygiene. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hygiene. Show all posts

Monday, March 10, 2014

Before Launching Your Newly Built Food Premises - Part II

Food Safety Training is must for all. Awareness of both food service employees and managers is probably the most effective method of obtaining fulfillment with the system. 

Training enables people to do their jobs well. It improves staff efficiency, gives them a sense of satisfaction and promotes professionalism.


While currently not mandatory, food service workers and managers are strongly encouraged to attend an approved safe food handling course. The health unit provides several options for staff to receive their food handler certification. This certification is accepted by health units. The food handler training program is provided by the relevant communities.

You can read more : Before Launching Your Newly Built Food Premises - Part I
Building Plan /Floor Plan

A plan must be attached  to scale of your facilities. This includes food preparation, utensil cleaning and sanitizing, storage, service areas, washrooms, locker areas, ..etc.

Layout Of Facility
Produce a diagram of all rooms.  As i said earlier articles, plan a good flow pattern for handling foods from receiving through to the selling of foods. Ensure adequate cold room  and storage facility to handle the volume of foods expected. Ensure adequate separation between dirty or clean materials  and raw or cooked foods.
Living quarters must be completely separate from any room where food is prepared, packed or stored. Provide conveniently located separate hand wash sinks in food preparation areas.

Equipment Plan
Show location of all equipments & machines within the food premises. You should be installed listed all equipments & machines at the beginning. Arrange and install equipments to provide easy access for cleaning also. 
There are many general requirements,I have discussed earlier articles. But, here I gave small summary with few of them to check whether you are completely acquired or missed.
  • Separate hand wash basin with a liquid soap dispenser and paper towel dispenser.
  • Double utensil washing sink with a drain rack.
  • Vegetable preparation sink may be required .
  • Adequate cold storage refrigeration and freezer space.
  • Accurate thermometers for all refrigeration and freezer equipment.
  • Food probe thermometer for checking internal food temperatures.
  • Adequate hot holding equipment.
  • Adequate dry food storage space and bulk food containers, shelving 6" off floor or on the pallets.
  • Adequate sanitizer and sanitizer test strip papers.
  • Adequate lighting in all food handling/preparation/storage areas.
  • Floors, walls ceilings covered with a smooth, non absorbent, washable surface.
  • Separate area for floor waste water, slop sink and cleaning chemicals .
  • Washroom shall be equipped with liquid soap dispensers and paper towel dispensers.
  • Adequately sized exhaust sunshade emitted to outside air.
  • Storage space for staff belongings.
  • Integrated pest management system in place.
  • Windows and doors screened if you wish to leave them open for ventilation.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Before Launching Your Newly Built Food Premises - Part I

Staff need to understand the background and principles of their organization, the different forms this organization can take, and their own roles within it. At the beginning of your process, company owner should be obtained the approval for the plan by the public health inspector, who gives legal authority to build food company. This process is vary according to the country.
You know the clear definition  of the food premises is a premises where food or milk is manufactured, processed, prepared, stored, handled, displayed, distributed, transported, sold or offered for  sale, but does not include a private residence.
So, a success operation reduces both food wastes and the risk of harmful promotion. It also attracts customers. Before you open your food premises you should be paid attention for all of its safety outcomes. Public health inspectors are available to assist you. You can get their service to check whether, it is ok or not.
There are food safety & management experience peoples or consultants, who provide information and advice to you and your staff during inspections of your facilities & plant. They provide food handler training seminars also. Inspections and training programs are in place to help prevent problems from occurring within your food premises. You and they have a same goal to supply safe, quality food to public.
The layout of your plant is important for good sanitation. Poorly arranged equipment may create health hazards and affect the economic feasibility of your operation. Good planning should allow for the smooth and systematic flow of work from receiving to serving/selling and the return of expired products to the returning area.
The design, construction and installation of food service equipment are important to the sanitary operation of a food premise.
An important issue to consider in the planning stage is the size of your kitchen to ensure it is large enough to put up the number and types of products you intend to manufacture and the number of staff required to work in the area. It is also important to consider the number of machines required and the most appropriate location for each machine in order to allow for the store in the proper location.
Some food equipment suppliers and architects will advise and lend a hand you in preparing plans and developing layouts. Public health inspectors can also provide assistance.
At the relevant step you should prepare the food premises' site plan with floor areas. Some countries, it should compulsory for the approval from the public health inspectors. It should contain ;
  • Source of water
Municipal supply or a private water supply (if your water supply is a well, show the location of the well on your plan.)
  • Sewage disposal
Municipal sewer system or private onsite sewage disposal.(if the sewage disposal system is already in place, show the location )
  • Garbage storage
Garbage storage area, grease storage receptacle and recyclables.
  • Water supply
An adequate supply of hot and cold water under pressure. (must be potable water)
  • Landscaping
Plan parking areas and driveways.

You can read rest parts in here : Before Launching Your Newly Built Food Premises - Part II

Friday, February 21, 2014

Pest Control Of The Food Premises

Food premises should be kept free of pests like rats, mice and insects such as flies and cockroaches. Food premises and surrounding areas should be inspected frequently to look for signs of pest infestation. Presence of rats and mice can be indicated by signs left behind by their activities including droppings, holes, runways, biting  marks, feet marks and spreads.
Cockroaches usually hide behind stoves, hot water pipes, sinks, in cupboards, drying rooms and anywhere which is dark and warm. Signs of cockroach infestation include presence of cockroach eggs and droppings and a unpleasant "cockroach" odour.
Flies usually infest places with food attraction. Presence of fecal specks and vomits are common signs of fly infestation.
Food premises are easily infested by rats, mice, cockroaches and flies because they provide them with sufficient food sources and numerous harborage places. Improper handling of food and food debris, accumulation of miscellaneous articles and presence of structural defects cause to be food premises highly susceptible to pest infestations. Pests will not only cause food safety problems but also transmit diseases to human. They can carry pathogenic organisms to foods physically by their bodies, hair and excreta.
Pest infestations should be dealt with immediately but without affecting food safety. Preferably, they should be carried out by specialist pest control service providers.
Keeping Of Records About Pest Controlling
Management of food premises should keep proper records of results of pest control inspections, surveys, maintenance and services, etc. in respect of your premises.
Presence of pests increases the probability of contamination of food and may cause significant damage to food premises. The first and best line of protection is to prevent entry of pests by proper inspection and maintenance of the premises. The second line of protection is to remove pests of food source by proper storage of food and quick removal of reject, food leftovers and spills.
 



Annual fumigation can be used to prevent or control of pest within the food premises. But, you should be hired well knowledgeable and certified expertise or company for that processes. Phostoxin tablets can be used for that. 




I know your dream is building a food premises. That is why, I tried to give some informative articles to you with important tips & tricks. I have given those as follow;
  1. Designing of food premises & Land selection
  2. Food Premises Layout Preparation From Your Drafts
  3. Construction Of Food Premises To Standard Requirements
  4. Internal Structures & Fittings Of Food Premises
  5. Mobile Or Temporary Premises  Of The Food Premises
  6. Implementation Of Machines &Equipments In Food Premises
  7. Facilities Of The Food Premises Supply Into Requirements
  8. Maintenance And Sanitation Of The Food Premises
  9. Management And Administration Put Into Action
  10. Supervisory Bodies Put Into Service
  11. Launch Your Dream Into Practice

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Mobile Or Temporary Premises Of The Food Premises

Temporary or mobile premises may be required to appoint within food premises to maintain your plant processes well. When designing and fitting out a mobile  food vehicle, it must meet the required outcomes from the Food Safety Standards.
Mobile food vehicle is mobile premises, for a food selling, means premises that are a vehicle from which a person sells unpackaged food by retail. A mobile food vehicle has specific design requirements that need to be considered.

Otherwise, you can use mobile trolly for transportation facility of your food premises.
There should be minimum requirements to complete your ideas. Walls, floors and ceiling of the food preparation and storage areas of the vehicle must conform with the standard requirements. Doors and serving openings are to be finished on both internal and external sides with the same standard of material as the walls. The driving cubicle of the vehicle must be separated and sealed from the food preparation and storage section. All openings on the mobile food vehicle are to be fitted with close fitting doors and shutters. These must be pests proof and able to be closed during transport.
Washing Facility
A storage tank with at least a 100L capacity must be installed in the vehicle. This tank needs to be filled with potable water and have an attached pressure supply system reticulated to sinks and basins. A waste water tank of adequate capacity must be fitted to the vehicle. A back flow prevention device should be fitted to prevent any possible source of contamination.
Garbage disposal can be done by using separate waste containers with tight fitting lids. It must be fitted. Bin liners must be provided.
Mobile food vehicles cannot be used for sleeping or any other activity that has the potential to contaminate food prepared or stored in the vehicle. When mechanical ventilation is required, the system must be constructed to conform with standard requirements. Facilities must be provided for emergency fire control. It is recommended to provide a minimum 4kg Dry Chemical fire extinguisher and a fire coverlet located within close to cooking equipment.
As well as, the vehicle must be registered if you send it on the road. The installation and use of liquid petroleum gas must conform with the relevant standards. A up to date gas certificate needs to be available for inspection at all times.

I know your dream is building a food premises. That is why, I tried to give some informative articles to you with important tips & tricks. I have given those as follow;
  1. Designing of food premises & Land selection
  2. Food Premises Layout Preparation From Your Drafts
  3. Construction Of Food Premises To Standard Requirements
  4. Internal Structures & Fittings Of Food Premises
  5. Mobile Or Temporary Premises  Of The Food Premises
  6. Implementation Of Machines &Equipments In Food Premises
  7. Facilities Of The Food Premises Supply Into Requirements
  8. Maintenance And Sanitation Of The Food Premises
  9. Management And Administration Put Into Action
  10. Supervisory Bodies Put Into Service
  11. Launch Your Dream Into Practice

Internal Structures & Fittings Of Food Premises

Internal structures and fittings must be fabricated as necessary. There are  also many sets of standard requirements about building raw materials, setups, facilities,…etc. Now you should be gained practical knowledge to decide its necessities. Always try to keep in touch with your dream. Then, it is easy to achieve anything.
I do not know, what is the type of your food premises…? But, i gave you in detail my tricks for common applications. It is your ability to run in my ideas of your road with your fuels.
Fixtures And Fittings 
Fit for their estimated use fixtures, fittings and equipment, and food contact surfaces must be designed, constructed, located and installed. They can be easily and effectively cleaned and sanitized. Surrounding surfaces can be easily and effectively cleaned.

Food Contact Surfaces Of Equipment
It means surfaces that will come into direct contact with unprotected foods. Examples are cooking and processing equipment, knives, chopping boards, eating and drinking utensils, containers in which foods are processed or stored, drink dispensing machines, surfaces of food preparation tables, equipment used to wash food, meat mincers, meat slicers and thermometers, etc. Those should be  made of materials that are corrosion resistant, smooth, non absorbent, durable, with no toxic effect, and do not pass on colours, odours, tastes or unsafe substances to food, impermeable to grease, food particles or water, free from cracks, crevices, open seams, chips, sharp internal angles or corners, finished to have smooth welds and joints, easily and effectively cleaned, sanitized and easily accessible for cleaning, sanitizing and inspection.
Separate knives and chopping boards should be used for cutting up read  to eat food and not ready  to eat food. They should be clearly and clearly notable, e.g. by using colour code. Food contact surfaces should not introduce into food, any substance which may be harmful to the health of consumers, such as migration of copper or lead to acidic food or beverages. Properly designed food contact surfaces can facilitate effective cleaning and sanitizing.
Non Food Contact Surfaces of Equipment
Those should be free from unnecessary ridges and cracks  and be designed and constructed to allow easy cleaning and maintenance.
Surface Finishes
 Floors must be finished with an approved material and laid to a smooth surface, free from cracks and crevices.  Floor finishes should be light colored to facilitate effective cleaning. 

Double And Triple Compartment Sinks
A double or triple compartment sink is used for hot water sanitizing, rinsing baskets and heating elements capable of maintaining the water temperature at minimum of 77°C are to be provided. Loading space and draining or drying space is to be provided. Chemical sanitizing is permissible. A food grade sanitizers must be used if items are not rinsed.
Double Bowl Sinks
Double bowl sinks must have these requirements, such as constructed of stainless steel , have a minimum bowl size of 450mm x300mm x 300mm to enable cleaning of large pots and equipment,  fitted with a draining area at each end , a splatter back as part of the unit,300mm up the wall and where draining racks are provided above sinks, they must be of stainless steel construction.
Preparation Sinks
Food preparation requires the washing of food and immersion in water, a selected food preparation sink must be provided for this purpose. Selected food preparations sinks must be separate from all other sinks.
Ventilation Systems
Food premises should have sufficient natural or mechanical ventilation to effectively remove fumes, smoke, steam, heat and condensation arising from the food premises, and supply fresh air thereto. Adequate forward motion fans and extraction fans should be provided, with the point of intake or discharge being in the open air at a height of not less than 2.5m from the ground level and in such a manner as not to cause a nuisance. Natural ventilation is insufficient for the seating accommodation inside restaurants and factory canteens. A mechanical ventilating system should be provided to give not less than 17m3 of outside air per hour for each person that the premises are designed to accommodate. Seating areas, kitchens or food rooms and toilets should have their own independent ventilating system. Air filters in every ventilating system should be indicated by filter gauge, filter flag indicator or differential pressure switch.
Every blower fan should be fitted with a fused running hour meter connected to the load side of the fan contractor with a device for recording time in minutes and hours. Each fused running hour meter should be sited in an easily accessible and conspicuous place to facilitate inspection.
Typical design of a mechanical ventilation system is given above only by drawing. Ensure that lighting illumination is adequate within the cooking area. Avoid shadowing and utilize approved internal exhaust canopy lighting fixtures where necessary.
Ventilating Systems In Kitchens And Food Rooms            
Cooking range inside kitchens and food rooms should be equipped with an exhaust system that can efficiently and effectively remove all fumes, smoke, steam or any vapour arising from food operations. The design and capacity of the system should always be based on the expected peak load conditions. The exhaust system should be installed with a metal hood properly connected to an air duct fitted with an extraction fan of sufficient capacity. There are many designs of hoods can be collected through best range hoods for kitchen Island. All exhaust should be arranged to pass through a grease filter and, if required, an air pollution control equipment (such as a water scrubber or electrostatic precipitator) before being discharged into the open air in such a manner and at such a position as not to be a nuisance. Grease filters or air pollution control equipment like water scrubbers should be often washed or changed to prevent building up of grease or dirt on the filter   or forming condensation to fall on food, food contact surfaces or utensils, etc. and  fixed in their positions unless temporarily removed for cleaning or repair. Fresh air supply system fitted with forward motion fans with adequate capacity should be installed in food rooms and kitchens. If solid fuel or diesel oil is used, all smoke should be discharged through a chimney above the roof level.
Ventilating Systems In Restaurants And Factory Canteens         
Ventilating systems in restaurants and factory canteens should be kept fully in operation at all times when the premises are open to the public. They should be maintained in good condition and repair to ensure a supply of 17m3 per hour of fresh air for each person in the premises. Periodic checks to ventilating systems including their fans and guards should be conducted to ensure proper functioning.
Always consider mechanical extraction systems when building new premises or renovating existing premises, as it is more expensive and inconvenient to install these systems once the business is operating.
Lighting Systems
All lighting and light fixtures should be designed to avoid accumulation of dirt and be easily cleaned. Lighting fixtures in food preparation areas should be protected with shatter proof covers to prevent broken glass from falling onto the food, food utensils or food equipment in the event of a breakage. There are several minimum illumination level (lux)of the light for food premises as below.
Activity
Illumination level  (lux)
Food preparation areas
500
Food and equipment storage areas
110-150
Dish washing, hand washing and toilet
200-300

 
Cold And Frozen Storage Rooms
Cold and frozen food storage room walls are to be lined with a smooth and impermeable material and all joints sealed. Floors are to be a smooth and impermeable material, and coved at the floor to wall junction. Floors are to be graded to the door opening and to a floor waste located outside the room, which is connected to the sewerage network or effluent disposal system. Doors must be able to be opened from the inside and you can fit an alarm in accordance with the Building.
Shelving is to be made of galvanized piping(with sealed ends), stainless steel or other suitable materials. They must be easy to remove for cleaning, clear of walls for cleaning and maintenance,  and the lowest shelf must be at least 250mm off the floor to allow for easy cleaning.
Prevention And Control Of  Pest Infestation         
To avoid pest infestation in premises, it is necessary to maintain food premises at high standards of hygiene and immediately attach any structural defects. Proofing measures should be accepted to block entry of pests. Foods should be properly protected and waste disposed of to cut their food source.You can see Grain Beetles there. It is very bad and not favorable condition for the food industry.
Particular attention should be given to the prevention and control of pests in food premises to  prevention of entry of pests by any holes or crevices at ceilings and on walls and floors should be sealed by cement or metal plates, the entrance permission of doors should be lowered to not more than 6 mm and metal kicking plates should be attached at the lower edges of doors and door-frames to prevent entry of rats and mice,  windows, ventilation openings and doors should be installed with mesh screens. Doors or screen doors should be self closing and kept closed at all times and any missing or damaged gratings of drains should be installed or replaced immediately.
Elimination of  harborage for Pests by any defects on walls, floors, ceilings, woodwork and all other parts of the structure of food premises should be on time repaired and  neglected articles or equipment should not be stored in food premises. If accumulation of articles is unavoidable, they should be moved regularly to eliminate harborage of pests.
Elimination of food sources to pests by all foods as well as condiments should be covered and stored properly by using sealed containers, floors of food premises should be kept clean and free from food leftovers especially overnight and preparing food or cleaning utensils is strictly prohibited in yard or at back or side way. Reject should be stored in reject containers with well fitted cover. Reject bags should be tied up before disposal to prevent spilling and attraction of pests. Reject or food leftovers should not be exposed and they should be cleared at least once a day, if possible every night to avoid leaving reject overnight and surface channels and grating should be kept clean, clear of food leftovers and free from chokege.
Insect Electrocuting Device (IED) equipped with catch pans can be used to eliminate flying insects in food premises. IED should be placed at least 1.5m (preferably 4.5 - 6 m) away from a food handling area. Only low wall mounted type IED should be used, and ceiling hung IED should not be used in food handling areas.
All practical measures must be implemented to prevent entry of pests into food premises. The internal structures are to be finished and designed to prevent favorable sites for pest harborage.
  • Installation of self closing lower level doors or self closing mesh screen doors with fitted endure strips to prevent pest entry into the premises.
  • Mechanical air curtains or plastic curtains may be considered to minimize pest entry.
  • All external windows must be fitted with close fitting mesh insect screens
  • All holes, service entries, gaps, crevices, cracks and empty space are to be effectively sealed.
  • Insect control devices may be used but must not be located above or immediately closest to food preparation, open food storage or cooking areas to prevent food contamination. The insect control device must be designed to capture and contain all insects within the device, operated and installed according to manufacturer's specifications and cleaned on a regular basis.
  • The use of chemical sprays are not permitted in food preparation working areas, over or near exposed food, cleaning equipment, unwrapped packaging and server areas.
  • Installation of pest proof roller doors and  weather strips at the bottom of the roller shutters
  • Sides of the roller shutters fitted tightly into the housing installation of a pest proof material at the top of the roller shutter to fill the gap usually left when the shutter is closed overnight.

Effluent And Waste Water Disposal Plant 
All sanitary fitments and hand washing facilities should be connected to a proper effluent or waste water disposal system. Where there is no public sewer serving the premises, effluent or waste water treatment facilities.
No man hole should be situated inside any kitchen or food room. All soil or waste or rainwater pipes inside any kitchen, food room or seating accommodation should be enclosed in pipe ducts constructed of resistant corrosion proofing materials such as stainless steel with plaster on the outside. Suitable inspection openings should be provided for the enclosures.
All sewage and waste water produced from food premises should be discharged to a proper polluted water open drain in a sanitary manner. Waste water and food leftovers should not be discharged into surface gutters or surface channels inside or outside the food premises. Sewerage and plumbing systems should be maintained in good repair and in good working condition. They should be avoided of any defects, chokege, leakage or overflow  and should not allow access of pests to the food premises. Sewage and waste water are likely to contain pathogenic organisms. Proper disposal of sewage and waste water is essential to preventing transmission of pathogens in food premises. Sewage and waste water are highly contaminated matters. Their proper disposal, apart from prevention of environmental pollution, is critical in safeguarding spread of food borne diseases in food premises, and helping minimize pest infestation inside and outside the premises.
Grease Traps            
All greasy waste water from food premises, especially that from sinks and cooking stove areas, should be collected and discharged to a foul water drain via a grease trap of sufficient capacity to treat a volume of waste water discharged during max out job hours. The grease trap should be of such design and construction as to ensure effective removal of grease from entering the sewerage system and be easily accessible for cleaning and inspection.  It should be fitted with cover made of light but strong material. Underground grease traps should be protected from entry of surface water by raised kerbs or surface channels.
A properly designed and constructed grease trap can effectively remove greasy waste from the waste water before discharged to the sewerage system, thereby minimizing the possibility of clogging of sewers due to accumulation of greasy waste, and reducing the loading of water pollutants.
Refuse Storage Or Waste Collecting Rooms 
All areas of food premises that will generate waste or refuse should be provided with at least one waste container for temporary storage of solid waste on the premises. Waste containers should obtain these  features  be sufficient in number to handle with the normal waste yield generated by the food premises while awaiting next waste removal. It should be constructed of strong and impervious materials, cylindrical in shape or tapered towards the bottom, with smooth internal surfaces,  provided with a close fitting cover or lid, and be fitted with handles and easily accessible for use. Waste management in sufficient and separate waste containers for all estimated waste including cardboard, glass, general waste, and waste oil storage. Waste bins must be solid, and designed to be easily cleaned to prevent the attraction of pests.
I know your dream is building a food premises. That is why, I tried to give some informative articles to you with important tips & tricks. I have given those as follow;
  1. Designing of food premises & Land selection
  2. Food Premises Layout Preparation From Your Drafts
  3. Construction Of Food Premises To Standard Requirements
  4. Internal Structures & Fittings Of Food Premises
  5. Mobile Or Temporary Premises  Of The Food Premises
  6. Implementation Of Machines &Equipments In Food Premises
  7. Facilities Of The Food Premises Supply Into Requirements
  8. Maintenance And Sanitation Of The Food Premises
  9. Management And Administration Put Into Action
  10. Supervisory Bodies Put Into Service
  11. Launch Your Dream Into Practice
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