ServSafe® Food Managers Certification Class

7th Edition

Modules:
I. Providing Safe Food
II. Forms of Contamination
III. The Safe Food Handler
IV. The Flow of Food: An Introduction
V. The Flow of Food: Purchasing, Receiving, and Storage
VI. The Flow of Food: Preparation
VII. The Flow of Food: Service
VIII. Food Safety Management Systems
IX. Safe Facilities and Pest Management
X. Cleaning and Sanitizing

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 Module 1: Providing Safe Food

Challenges to Food Safety

A foodborne illness is a diseases transmitted to people by food.
An illness is considered an outbreak when:
 Two or more people have the same symptoms after eating the same food.
 An investigation is conducted by state and local regulatory authorities.
 The outbreak is confirmed by a laboratory analysis.

How foodborne illnesses occur

Unsafe food is usually the result of contamination, which is the presence of harmful substances in food. To prevent
foodborne illnesses, you must recognize the contaminants that can make food unsafe. These can come from
pathogens, chemicals, or physical objects. They might also come from certain unsafe practices in your operation.

Contaminants are divided into three categories

Biological Pathogens are the greatest threat to
food safety. They include certain viruses, How food becomes unsafe
parasites, fungi, and bacteria. Some plants,
mushrooms, and seafood that carry harmful If food handlers do not handle food
toxins (poisons) are also included in this group. correctly, it can become unsafe. These
Chemical Foodservice can contaminate food if are the five most common food-handling
they are used incorrectly. The photo at left mistakes, or risk factors, that can cause
shows one example of how chemicals may foodborne illness:
contaminate food. Chemical contaminants can
include cleaners, sanitizers, and polishes. 1 Purchasing food from unsafe sources
2 Failing to cook food correctly
Physical Foreign objects such as metal shavings, 3 Holding food at incorrect temperatures
staples, and bandages can get into food. So can 4 Using contaminated equipment
glass, dirt, and even bag ties. Naturally occurring 5 Practicing poor personal hygiene
objects, such as fish bones in fillets, are another
example.
Each of these contaminants is a danger to food safety. But biological contaminants are responsible for most foodborne illness.

Practices related to Foodborne illness

Time-temperature abuse
Food has suffered time-temperature abuse when it has stayed too long at temperatures that are good for the
growth of pathogens. A foodborne illness can result if food is time-temperature abused. This can happen in many
ways:
 Food is not held or stored at the correct temperatures.
 Food is not cooked or reheated enough to kill pathogens.
 Food is not cooled correctly.
Cross-contamination
Pathogens can be transferred from one surface or food to another. This is called cross-contamination. It can cause a
foodborne illness in many ways:
 Contaminated ingredients are added to food that receives no further cooling.
 Ready-to-eat food touches contaminated surfaces.
 Contaminated food touches or drips fluids onto cooked or ready-to-eat food.
 A food handler touches contaminated food and then touches ready-to-eat food.
 Contaminated wiping cloths food-contact surfaces
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Poor personal hygiene
Food handlers can cause a foodborne illness if they do any of the following actions:
 Fail to wash their hands correctly after using the restroom
 Cough or sneeze on food
 Touch or scratch wounds and then touch food, as shown in the photo at left
 Work while sick
Poor cleaning and sanitizing
Pathogens can be spread to food if equipment has not been cleaned and sanitized correctly between uses. This can
happen in the following ways:
 Equipment and utensils are not washed, rinsed, and sanitized between uses.
 Food-contact surfaces are wiped clean rather than being washed, rinsed and sanitized, as shown in the
photo at left.
 Wiping cloths are not stored in a sanitizer solution between uses.
 Sanitizing solutions are not at the required levels to sanitize objects.

Food most likely to become unsafe

TCS and ready-to-eat food are the most likely types of food to become unsafe.

TCS food
Pathogens grow well in TCS food. These items need time and temperature control to limit pathogen growth. For this
reason, this food is called TCS food – food requiring time and temperature control for safety.

 Milk and dairy products  Shell eggs

 Meat: beef, pork and lamb  Poultry
 Fish  Shellfish and crustaceans
 Baked potatoes  Heat-treated plant food, such as cook rice,
 Tofu or other soy protein beans and vegetables
 Sliced melons, cut tomatoes and  Sprouts and sprout seeds
leafy greens  Untreated garlic and oil mixtures

Ready-to-eat Food
Like TCS food, ready-to-eat food also needs careful handling to prevent contamination. Ready-to-eat food is exactly
what it sounds like: food that can be eaten without further preparation, washing, or cooking. Ready-to eat food
includes cooked food, washed fruit and vegetables (whole and cut), and deli meat. Bakery items and sugar, spices,
and seasonings are also included.

Population at High Risk for Foodborne Illnesses

Certain groups of people have higher risk of getting a foodborne illness. These are:

Elderly people Preschool-age children People with compromised immune systems

People’s immune systems weaken Very young children have not Certain medical conditions and medications
with age. The immune system is the built up strong immune can weaken a person’s immune system.
body’s defense against illness. systems. These include:
• Cancer • HIV/AIDS • Transplants

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Keeping Food Safe
Now that you know how food can become unsafe, you can use this knowledge to keep food safe. Focus on these
measures:
 Purchasing from approved, reputable suppliers
 Controlling time and temperature
 Preventing cross-contamination
 Practicing personal hygiene
 Cleaning and sanitizing

Train your staff to follow safe food handling procedures. Train staff when they are hired and retrain them on an
ongoing basis. Watch to make sure they follow procedures. If you see unsafe food handling practices, take corrective
action to keep food safe. Retrain employees as needed.

Government Agencies Responsible for prevention of Foodborne Illness

Several government agencies take leading roles in the prevention of foodborne illness in the United States. The Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspect food and perform other
critical duties.
State and local regulatory authorities create regulations and inspect operations.
Agencies such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) help
with food safety as well.

The FDA
The FDA inspects all food except meat, poultry, and eggs. The agency also regulates food transported across state
lines. In addition, the FDA issues the Food Code. This science-based code provides recommendations for food safety
regulations. The Food Code was created for city, country, state, and tribal agencies. These agencies regulate
foodservice for the following groups:
 Restaurants and retail food stores
 Vending operations
 Schools and day care centers
 Hospitals and nursing homes

Although the FDA recommends that states adopt The Food Code, it cannot require it. The FDA also provides
technical support and training. This is available for industry and regulatory agencies.

Other Agencies
Several other agencies have an important role in food safety and the prevention of foodborne illness.
USDA The U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates and inspects meat, poultry, and eggs.
CDC and PHS These agencies assist the FDA, USDA, and state and local health departments. They conduct research
into the causes of foodborne illness outbreaks. They also assist in investigating outbreaks.

State and local regulatory authorities

Regulatory authorities write or adopt codes that regulate retail and foodservice operation. Codes may differ from
the FDA Food Code, because these agencies are not required to adopt it.
Regulatory authorities have many responsibilities:
 Inspecting operations
 Enforcing regulations
 Investigating complaints and illnesses
 Issuing licenses and permits
 Approving construction
 Reviewing and approving HACCP plans

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 Module 2: Forms of Contamination
Contamination is the presence of harmful substances in food. Those substances can be biological, chemical, or
physical. Most contaminates cause foodborne illness. Other can result in physical injury.

How contamination happens

Contaminants come from a variety of places. Many contaminants are found in the animals we use for food. Others
come from air, contaminated water, and dirt and from chemicals we use in our operations. Others occur naturally in
food, such as the bones in fish.

Food handler can pass on contaminants when they are in contact with a person who is sick, or when food handlers
who do not wash their hands after using restroom may contaminate food and surfaces with feces from their fingers,
once this food is eaten, a foodborne illness may result. This is call fecal-oral route.

Some contaminants are passed very easily in any of this ways:

 From person to person
 Through sneezing or vomiting onto food or food-contact surfaces
 From touching dirty food-contact surfaces and equipment, and then touching food.

Biological Contamination
Biological contamination occurs from microorganisms. These are small, living organisms that can be seen only
through a microscope. Many microorganisms are harmless, but some can cause illness. Harmful microorganisms are
called pathogens. Some pathogens make you sick when you eat them. Other produce poison or toxins.

There are four types of pathogens that can contaminate food and cause foodborne illness. These are bacteria,
viruses, parasites, and fungi (which includes molds and yeast)

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are over 40 kinds of bacteria, viruses, parasites, and
molds that can occur in food and cause foodborne illness. Of these, six have been singled out by the FDA. These
have been dubbed the Big Six because they are highly contagious and can cause severe illness.

The Big Six include:

 Shigella spp.  Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC)
 Salmonella Typhi  Hepatitis A
 Nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS)  Norovirus

Symptoms of Foodborne Illness

The symptoms of a foodborne illness vary, depending on which illness a person has. But most victims of
foodborne illness share some common symptoms:
 Diarrhea  Nausea
 Vomiting  Abdominal cramps
 Fever  Jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and eyes)

Not every person who is sick with foodborne illness will have all of these symptoms. Nor are the symptoms of a
foodborne illness limited to the list. How quickly foodborne-illness appear in a person is known as the onset time of
the illness. Onset times depend on the type of foodborne illness a person has. They can range from 30 minutes to as
long as six weeks. How severe the illness is can also vary, from mild diarrhea to death.

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Bacteria
Bacteria that cause foodborne illness have some basic characteristics.

Location Bacteria can be found almost everywhere. They live in and on our bodies. Some type of bacteria keep us
healthy, while others cause illness.
Detection Bacteria cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted.
Growth Bacteria needs six conditions to grow, if this conditions are correct, bacteria will grow in rapid numbers.
Prevention The most important way to prevent bacteria from causing a foodborne illness is to control time and
temperature.

Conditions for Bacteria to Grow:

Food Most bacteria need nutrients to survive. TCS food supports the growth of bacteria better.
Bacteria grow best in food that contains little or no acid. pH is the measure of acidity. The pH
Acidity scale ranges from 0 to 14. A value of 0 is highly acidic, while a value of 14 is highly alkaline. A pH
of 7 is neutral. Bacteria grow best in food that is neutral to slightly acidic.
Bacteria grow rapidly between 41°F and 135°F. This range is known as the temperature danger
Temperature zone. Bacteria grow even more rapidly from 70°F to 125°F. Bacteria growth is limited when food
is held above or below the temperature danger zone.
Bacteria needs time to grow. The more time bacteria spend in the temperature danger zone, the
Time
more opportunity they have to grow to unsafe levels.
Oxygen Some bacteria need oxygen to grow. Others grow when oxygen is not there.
Bacteria grow well in food with high levels of moisture. The amount of moisture available in food
Moisture for this growth is called water activity (aw). The aw scale ranges from 0.0 to 1.0. The higher the
value, the more available moisture in the food. For example, Water has a water activity of 1.0

Major Bacteria that cause Foodborne Illness: Food handlers diagnosed with illnesses from these bacteria must
NEVER work in a foodservice operation while they are sick.

Bacteria Source Food linked with bacteria Prevention Measures

Salmonella Typhi Salmonella Typhi lives only in humans. • Ready-to-eat food • Exclude from the operation
People with typhoid fever carry the • Beverages food handlers who have been
bacteria in their bloodstream and diagnosed with an illness caused
intestinal tract. by Salmonella Typhi
Eating only a small amount of these • Wash hands
bacteria can make a person sick. The • Cook food to minimum internal
severity of symptoms depends on the temperatures
health of the person and the amount
of bacteria eaten. The bacteria are
often in a person’s feces for weeks
after symptoms have ended.

Nontyphoidal Many farm animals carry nontyphoidal • Poultry and eggs • Cook poultry and eggs to
Salmonella Salmonella naturally. • Meat minimum internal temperatures
Eating only a small amount of these • Milk and dairy products • Prevent cross-contamination
bacteria can make a person sick. The • Produce, such as between poultry and ready-to
severity of symptoms depends on the tomatoes, peppers, and eat food.
health of the person and the amount cantaloupes • Exclude from the operation
of bacteria eaten. The bacteria are food handlers who are vomiting
often in a person’s feces for weeks or have diarrhea and have been
after symptoms have ended. diagnosed with an illness caused
by nontyphoidal Salmonella.

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 Bacteria Source Food linked with bacteria Prevention Measures
Shigella spp. Shigella spp. Is found in the feces of • Food that is easily • Exclude from the operation
humans with the illness. Most illnesses contaminated by hands, food handlers who have diarrhea
occur when people eat or drink such as salads containing and have been diagnosed with an
contaminated food or water. TCS food (potato, tuna, illness caused by Sheila spp.
shrimp, macaroni, and • Wash hands
Flies can also transfer the bacteria chicken) • Control flies inside and outside
from feces to food. the operation
• Food that has made
Eating only a small amount of these contact with
bacteria can make a person sick. High contaminated water,
levels of the bacteria are often in a such as produce
person’s feces for weeks after
symptoms have ended.

Shiga toxin- Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can be • Ground beef (raw and • Exclude from the operation
producing found in the intestines of cattle. The undercooked) food handlers who have diarrhea
Escherichia coli bacteria can contaminate meat during • Contaminated produce and have been diagnosed with a
slaughtering. disease from the bacteria.
Also known as The bacteria is also found in infected • Cook food, especially ground
E.coli people. beef, to minimum internal
Eating only a small amount of the temperatures.
bacteria can make the person sick. • Purchase produce from
Once eaten, it produces toxins in the approved, reputable suppliers.
intestine, which cause the illness. The • Prevent cross-contamination
bacteria are often in a person’s fences between raw meat and ready-to
for weeks after symptoms have ended. eat food.

Viruses
Viruses share some basic characteristics.
Location Viruses are carried by human beings and animals. They require a living host to grow. While viruses do not
grow in food, they can be transferred through food and still remain infectious in food.
Sources People can get viruses from food, water, or any contaminated surface. Foodborne illnesses from viruses
typically occur through fecal-oral routes. Norovirus is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness. It is often
transmitted through airborne vomit particles.
Destruction Viruses are not destroyed by normal cooking temperatures. That is why it is especially important to
practice good personal hygiene when handling food and food-contact surfaces. The quick removal and cleanup of
vomit is also important.
Major viruses that cause foodborne illness
Virus Source Food linked with Virus Prevention Measures
Hepatitis A Hepatitis A is mainly found in the feces • Ready-to-eat food • Exclude from the operation food
of people infected with it. The virus • Shellfish from handlers who have been
can contaminate water and many contaminated water diagnosed with Hepatitis A
types of food. It is commonly linked • Exclude from the operation food
with ready-to-eat food. However, it handlers who have had jaundice
has also been linked with shellfish from for seven days or less.
contaminated water. The virus is often • Wash hands.
transferred to food when infected food • Avoid bare-hand contact with
handlers touch food or equipment with ready-to-eat food
fingers that have feces on them. Eating • Purchase shellfish from
only a small amount of the virus can approved, reputable suppliers.
make a person sick. An infected person
may not show symptoms for week but
can be very infectious. Cooking does
not destroy Hepatitis A.

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 Virus Source Food linked with Virus Prevention Measures
Norovirus Like Hepatitis A, Norovirus is • Ready-to-eat food • Exclude from the operation food
commonly linked with ready-to-eat • Shellfish from handlers are vomiting or have
food. It has also been linked with contaminated water diarrhea and have been diagnosed
contaminated water. Norovirus is often with Norovirus.
transferred to food when infected food • Wash hands.
handlers touch food or equipment with • Avoid bare-hand contact with
fingers that are contaminated by ready-to-eat food
fences. • Purchase shellfish from
Eating only a small amount of approved, reputable suppliers.
Norovirus can make a person sick. It is
also very contagious with a few hours
after eating it. The virus is often in a
person’s feces for days after symptoms
have ended.

Parasites and Fungi Parasites require a host to live and reproduce. They are commonly associated with seafood
and food processed with contaminated water. The most important measure for preventing parasites from causing a
foodborne illness is to purchase food from approved, reputable suppliers. Fungi include mold, yeasts, and
mushrooms. Like parasites, they are best prevented by purchasing food from approved, reputable suppliers.

Biological Toxins occur naturally in certain plants, mushrooms, and seafood. When seafood is time/temp abused,
bacteria on the fish make the toxin. It can’t be destroyed by cooking, freezing, smoking or curing. Food linked with
the toxin: tuna, bonito, mackerel, and mahi-mahi. Prevention measures: prevent time/temp abuse during storage
and preparation. Symptoms of biological toxin illnesses are diarrhea or vomiting, and neurological symptoms such as
tingling in extremities, reversal of hot and cold sensations, flushing of the face and/or hives, difficulty breathing, and
heart palpitations. Symptoms and onset times vary with illness, and people can experience illness within minutes.

Chemical contaminants occur when chemicals get into food and beverages. Chemical contaminants include toxin
metals, cleaners, sanitizers, polishes, and machine lubricants. To help prevent chemical contamination, store
chemicals away from prep areas, food storage areas, and service areas. Always follow the manufacturer’s direction
when using chemicals. Sources of toxic-metal poisoning include: certain types of kitchenware and equipment (items
made from pewter, copper, zinc, and some types of painted pottery. Consult the chemical’s Material Safety Data
Sheet (MSDS), which contains important safety information about the chemical

Physical Contaminants Food can become contaminated when objects get into it. It can also happen when natural
objects are left in food, like bones in a fish fillet. Some common objects that can get into food include metal shavings
from cans, wood, fingernails, staples, bandages, glass, jewelry, and dirt. Naturally occurring objects, such as fruit pits
and bones, can also be contaminants. Purchase food from approved, reputable suppliers to prevent physical
contamination. Closely inspect the food you receive. Make sure no physical contaminants can get into it at any point
during the flow of food.

Deliberate Contamination of Food

So far, you have learned about methods to prevent the accidental contamination of food. But you also must take
steps to stop people who are actually trying to contaminate it. This may include the following groups:
 Terrorists or activists These people may try to tamper with your food using biological,
 Disgruntled current or former staff chemical, or physical contaminants. They may even use radioactive
 Vendors materials. Attacks might occur anywhere in the food supply chain. But
 Competitors they are usually focused on a specific food item, process, or business.
The best way to protect food is to make it as difficult as possible for someone to tamper with it. For this reason, a
food defense program should deal with the points in your operation where food is at risk. The FDA has created a
tool that can be used to develop a food defense program. It is based on the acronym A.L.E.R.T.

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Assure Make sure that products you receive are from safe sources.
Look Monitor the security of products in the facility
Employees Know who is in your facility
Reports Keep information related to food defense accessible: Receiving logs, staff files, office files
Threat Identify what you will do and who you will contact if there is suspicious activity at your operation:
 Hold any product you suspect to be contaminated
 Contact your regulatory authority immediately
 Maintain an emergency contact list

Responding to a Foodborne-Illness Outbreak

Despite your best efforts, a foodborne-illness outbreak may occur. Here are some things you should consider when
responding to an outbreak.
Ask the person making the complaint for general contact information and to
Gathering information identify the food that was eaten. Also ask for a description of symptoms and
when the person became sick.
Notifying authorities Contact the local regulatory authority if you suspect an outbreak
Set the suspected product aside if any remains. Include a label with “Do Not Use”
Segregating product
and “Do Not Discard” on it, as shown in the photo at left.
Log information about the suspected product. This might include a product
Documenting information
description, production date, lot number, and the sell-by date.
Maintain a list of food handlers scheduled at the time of the suspected
Identifying staff contamination. They should also be interview immediately by management
about their health status.
Cooperate with regulatory authorities in the investigation. Provide appropriate
Cooperating with authorities
documentation like HACCP documents , staff files, etc.
Review food handling procedures to identify if standards are not being met or
Reviewing procedures
procedures are not working.

Food Allergens
A food allergens is a protein in a food or ingredients that some people are sensitive to. These proteins occur
naturally. When enough of an allergen is eaten, an allergic reaction can occur. This is when the immune system
mistakenly considers the allergen to be harmful and attacks the food protein. To protect your customers, you should
be able to recognize these signs and know what to do. You also should know the types of food that most often cause
allergic reactions to help prevent them from happening.

Allergy Symptoms
Depending on the person, an allergic reaction can happen just after the food is eaten or several hours later. This
reaction could include some or all of these symptoms:
 Nausea
 Wheezing or shortness of breath
 Hives or itchy rashes
 Swelling of various parts of the body, including the face, eyes, hands, or feet
 Vomiting and/or diarrhea
 Abdominal pain
 Itchy throat

Initially symptoms may be mild, but they can become serious quickly. In severe cases, anaphylaxis - a severe allergic
reaction that can lead to death – may result. If a customer is having a severe allergic reaction to food, call the
emergency number in your area and inform them of the allergic reaction.

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Common Food Allergens Milk
You and your staff must be aware of the most common food allergens and the menu items
that contain them.
While more than 160 food items can cause allergic reactions, just eight of those account for
90 percent of all reactions in the United States. These eight food items are known as the
Big Eight.

Preventing Allergic reactions Eggs

Fifteen millions Americans have food allergy, and allergic reactions result in 200,000
emergency room visits every year. Both service staff and kitchen staff needs to do their
part to avoid serving food containing allergens to people with food allergies. These
precautions also apply to any food sensitivities that a customer might mention, such as
gluten intolerance.
Fish
Food labels
Food labels are an important tool used to identify allergens in the products that you
purchase. Federal law requires manufactured products containing one or more of the Big
Eight allergens to clearly identify them on the ingredient label. The allergen may be
included in the common name of the food, such as buttermilk, or it may be shown in
parentheses after the ingredient.
Peanuts
Service Staff
Your staff should be able to tell customers about menu items that contain potential
allergens. At minimum, have one person available per shift to answer customer’s questions
about menu items. When customers say they have a food allergy, your staff should take it
seriously and must be able to do the following: Soy
Describe Dishes Tell customers how the item is prepared
Identify Ingredients Tell customers if the food they are allergic to is in the menu item
Suggest items that do not contain the food that the customer is
Suggest items
allergic to.
Identify the allergen Clearly mark or otherwise indicate the order for the guest with the
special order identified food allergy.
Wheat
Confirm the allergen special order with the kitchen staff when
picking up the food. Food should be hand-delivered to guest with
Deliver food
allergies. Delivering food separately will help prevent contact with
food allergens.

Kitchen Staff
Staff must make sure that allergens are not transferred from food or food-contact surfaces Crustacean
containing an allergen to the food served to the customer. This is called cross-contact. Here
are examples of how it can happen:
- Cooking different types of food in the same fryer oil.
- Letting food touch surfaces, equipment, or utensils that have touched allergens.
like crab, lobster, and shrimp

Tree nuts
How to avoid Cross-Contact
- Check recipes and ingredients labels to confirm that allergen is not present
- Wash, rinse, and sanitize cookware, utensils, and equipment before prepping food.
- Make sure the allergen does not touch anything for customers with food allergies
- Wash your hands and change gloves before prepping food
- Use separate fryers and cooking oils when frying food for customers with food allergies.
such as walnuts and pecans
- Label food package on-site for retail sale. Name all major allergens.
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 Module 3: The Safe Food Handler
At every step in the flow of food, food handlers can contaminate food. They might not even realize it when they do
it. Something as simple as touching the face while prepping a salad could make a customer sick. Even a food handler
who appears to be healthy may spread foodborne pathogens. As a manager, you need to know the many ways food
handlers can contaminate food.

Situations that can lead to contaminating food

Food handlers can contaminate food in any of the Actions that can contaminate food
following situations: To avoid causing a foodborne illness, pay close attention
 When they have a foodborne illness. to what you do with your hands. Some actions to avoid:
 When they have wounds or boils that contain a  Scratching the scalp
pathogen.  Running fingers through the air
 When sneezing or coughing.  Wiping or touching the nose
 When they have contact with a person who is ill  Rubbing an ear
 When they use the restroom and do not wash their  Touching a pimple or an infected wound/boil
hands  Wearing and touching dirty uniform
 When they have symptoms such as diarrhea,  Coughing or sneezing into the hand
vomiting, or jaundice.  Spitting in the operation
Some people carry pathogens and infect others without ever getting sick themselves. These people are called carries.

Managing a personal hygiene program

To keep food handlers from contaminating food, your operation needs a good personal hygiene program.
Some things to support a personal hygiene program include:
 Creating personal hygiene policies.
 Training food handlers on those policies and retraining them regularly.
 Modeling the correct behavior at all times (lead by example).
 Supervising food safety practices at all times.
 Revising personal hygiene policies when laws or science change.

Handwashing and hand care

Proper handwashing and hand care are critical to preventing the spread of pathogen.

Handwashing is the most important

part of personal hygiene. And many
food handlers do not wash their
hands correctly or as often as they
should. You must train your food
handlers to wash their hands, and
then you must monitor them.

Where to wash hands

Hands must be washed in a sink
designated for handwashing.
Monitor food handlers to make sure
they do this. They should NEVER
wash their hands in sinks designated
for food prep or dishwashing or sinks
used for discarding waste water.

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When to wash Hands
Food handlers must wash their hands before preparing food or working with clean equipment and utensils. They
must also wash their hands before putting on single-use gloves. Also after the following activities:
 Using the restroom.  Handling service animals or aquatic animals.
 Touching the body or clothing.  Handling chemicals that might affect food safety.
 Coughing, sneezing, blowing nose, or using a  Changing task (before beginning new task).
handkerchief or tissue.  Leaving and returning to the kitchen/prep area.
 Eating, drinking, smoking, or chewing gun or  Handling money.
tobacco.  Using electronic devices (like cellphones).
 Handling soiled items.  Touching anything else that may contaminate
 Handling war meat, seafood, or poultry. hands, such as dirty equipment, work surfaces, or
 Taking out garbage. cloths.

Corrective Action
If you see food handlers who are not following proper handwashing procedures, correct the situation immediately.
If they have touch food or food-contact surfaces with unclean hands:

Dispose of the contaminated food

Clean potentially contaminated equipment and utensils
Retrain o coach food handlers who are or following proper handwashing procedures if necessary.

Hand antiseptics
Hand antiseptics, also called hand sanitizers, are liquids or gels that are used to lower the number of pathogens on
skin. If used, they must comply with the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
standards.
Only use hand antiseptics after handwashing. NEVER use them in place of it. Wait for a hand antiseptic to dry before
you touch food or equipment.

Hand care
In addition to washing, hands need other care to prevent spreading pathogens.
Keep fingernail short and clean. Long fingernails may be hard to keep clean and can rip
Fingernail length
gloves. They can also chip and become physical contaminates.
Do NOT wear false fingernails. They can be hard to keep clean. False fingernails also can
False fingernails break off into food. However, false fingernails can be worn if the food handler wear single-
use gloves.
Do NOT wear nail polish. It can disguise dirt under nails and may flake off into food.
Nail polish
However, nail polish can be worn if the food handler wears single-use gloves.

Infected wounds or boils

Infected wounds, cuts and boils contain pus. They must be covered if they are open or draining to prevent
pathogens from contaminating food and food-contact surfaces. How and infected wound o boil is cover depends on
where it is located.
Located on the hand Then cover it with an impermeable cover like a finger cot. Impermeable means that liquid
cannot pass through the cover. Examples include bandages and finger cots.
Place a single-use glove over the cover.
Located on the arm Then cover it with an impermeable cover, such as a bandage. The wound must be completely
covered.
Located on another Then cover it with a dry, durable tight-fitting bandage.
part of the body

12
Single-use gloves
Single-use gloves must be worn when handling ready-to-eat food. Wash hands before putting on gloves. Wear the
right size glove. Avoid touching the gloves when you put them on. Change your gloves when they are dirty or torn;
before starting a new task; after an interruption in your task; after handling raw meat, seafood, or poultry and
before handling ready-to-eat food and after four hours of continuous use.
NEVER wash and reuse gloves. NEVER roll gloves to make them easier to put on.
NEVER blow into gloves. NEVER handle ready-to-eat food with bare hands if primarily serve a high-risk population.

However, there may be exceptions. It may be acceptable to handle ready-to-eat food with bare hands in these
situations:
 The food will be added as an ingredient to a dish that does not contain raw meat, seafood, or poultry, but
will be cooked to at least 145F. For example, adding cheese to pizza dough.
 The food will be added as an ingredient to a dish containing raw meat, seafood, or poultry, and the dish will
be cooked to the required minimum temperature of the raw items. For example, adding salt and pepper to
raw duck breast.
Personal Hygiene Practices Personal Cleanliness
Wearing dirty clothes or neglecting to shower probably Pathogens can be found on hair and skin. There is a
will not go over well with your guests. But there are real greater risk of these pathogens being transferred to food
food safety concerns, too. Keeping food safe means and food equipment if the food handler does not follow
paying attention to personal hygiene. The entire staff a personal hygiene program. Make sure food handlers
needs to know the basics. shower or bathe before work.

Work Attire
Food handlers in dirty clothes may carry pathogens that can cause foodborne illness. These pathogens can be
transferred from the clothing to the hands and to the food being prepared. Set up a dress code, and make sure all
staff follows it.
Eating, drinking, smoking, and chewing gum or tobacco
Small droplets of saliva can contain thousands of pathogens. In the process of eating, drinking, smoking, or chewing
gum or tobacco, saliva can be transferred to hands or directly to food being handled.
To prevent this, employees should only eat, drink, smoke, and chew gum or tobacco in designated areas.
NEVER do these things when:
 Prepping or serving food Employees can drink from a covered container if they handle the
 Working in pre areas container carefully to prevent contamination of their hands, the
 Working in areas used to clean container, and exposed food, utensils, and equipment. A correctly
utensils and equipment covered container will include a lid with a straw, or a sip-lid top.

Work attire guidelines

Hair restraints Wear a clean hat or other hair restraint when in food-prep area.
Do NOT wear hair accessories that could become physical contaminants.
Do NOT wear false eyelashes.
Food handler with facial hair should also wear a beard restraint.
Clean clothing Wear clean clothing daily
Change soiled uniforms, including apron, as needed to prevent contamination
If possible, change into work clothes at work
Store street clothing and personal belongings in designated areas.
Keep dirty clothing that is store in the operation away from food and prep areas.
Aprons Remove when leaving prep areas, for example before taking out garbage or using the restroom.
NEVER wipe your hands on your apron.
Jewelry Remove jewelry from hands and arms before prepping food or when working around prep areas.
Food handlers cannot wear any of the following: rings, bracelets and watches.

13
Policies for reporting health issues
Staff must report health problems to managements before working with food. Managers should also watch for staff
illnesses. Food handlers must be excluded from work if they are vomiting or have diarrhea and have been diagnosed
with a foodborne illness from certain pathogens, such as nontyphoidal Salmonella. Food handlers also must not
come to work if they have symptoms that included diarrhea, vomiting of jaundice. Staff who has persistent sneezing,
coughing, or a runny nose or a sore throat and a fever should not work with exposed food, utensils, or equipment.

How to handle medical conditions

If Then
The food handler has an infected wound or Restrict the food handler from working with exposed food, utensils,
boil that is not properly covered. and equipment
The food handler has a sore throat with a Restrict the food handler from working with exposed food, utensils,
fever and equipment
Exclude the food handler from the operation if you primarily serve a
high-risk population
The food handler has persistent sneezing, Restrict the food handler from working with exposed food, utensils,
coughing, or a runny nose that causes and equipment
discharges from the eyes, nose or, mouth
The food handler has at least one of these Exclude the food handler from the operation
symptoms from an infectious condition: Vomiting and diarrhea
 Vomiting Food handlers must meet one of these requirements before they can
 Diarrhea return to work:
 Jaundice  Have had no symptoms for at least 24 hours
 Have a written release from a medical practitioner
Jaundice
Food handlers with jaundice must be reported to the regulatory
authority. Food handlers who have had jaundice for seven days or less
must be excluded from the operation.

Food handlers must have a written release from a medical

practitioner and approval from the regulatory authority before
returning to work.

The food handler is vomiting or has Exclude the food handler from the operation
diarrhea and has been diagnosed with an
illness caused by one of these pathogens: Report the situation to the regulatory authority.
 Norovirus
 Shigella spp Some food handlers diagnosed with an illness may not experience
 Nontyphoidal Salmonella symptoms, or their symptoms may have ended. Work with the
 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) medical practitioner and the local regulatory authority to determine
 Hepatitis A whether the food handlers must be excluded from the operation or
 Salmonella Thyphi restricted from working with exposed food, utensils, and equipment.
The medical practitioner and regulatory authority will also determine
when the employees can safely return to the operation and/or carry
out their regular food handling duties.

14
 Module 4: The Flow of Food: An Introduction

 To prevent cross contamination, use separate equipment, such as colored cutting boards and utensil handles,
for each type of food. Clean and sanitize all work surfaces, equipment, and utensils after each task.
 To prevent cross contamination, prep food at different times: prepare raw meat, fish, and poultry at different
times than ready-to-eat food (when using the same prep table), or buy prepared food that don’t require much
prepping or handling.
 Holding food in the range of 41°F to 135°F (5°C to 57°C) results in time-temperature abuse. Food is also time-
temperature abused whenever it is cooked to the wrong internal temperature and cooled or reheated
incorrectly.
 To avoid time-temperature abuse: monitor time and temperature; make sure the correct kinds of
thermometers are available; regularly record temperatures and the times they are taken; minimize the time
that food spends in the temperature danger zone; and take corrective actions if time-temperature standards
are not met.

Monitoring Time and Temperature:

Bimetallic Stemmed Thermometer: scaled to measure temps from 0°F – 220°F; sensing area to +/- - 2°F.
Thermocouples and Thermistors: have a sensing area on the tip of their probe. This means you don’t have to insert
them into the food as far as a bimetallic stemmed thermometer to get a correct reading. They come with different
types of probes. For example:
- Immersion probe – used to check liquids (sauces); surface probe – check flat cooking equipment; penetration
probe – check internal temperature of thin food, such as hamburger patties or fish fillets; air probe – check
temperature inside refrigerators and ovens.
- Infrared: measures the surface of food and equipment but cannot measure air temperature or the internal
temperature of food. Hold as close to the food or equipment as possible, and remove anything between the
thermometer and the food, food package, or equipment.
- Time-Temperature Indicator (TTI): these are attached to packaging by the supplier. A color appears in the window
if the food has been time-temperature abused during shipment or storage.
- Maximum Registering Tape: indicates the highest temperature reached during use. Tape is used where
temperature readings cannot be continuously observed, such as the final rinse temperature in dishwashing
machines.
 When using thermometers: wash, rinse, sanitize, and air-dry them before and
after use; calibrate (adjust) them before each shift and when they fall onto the floor to
ensure accuracy; make sure thermometers used to measure the temperature of food
are accurate to +/-2°F or +/-1°C; only use glass thermometers if they are enclosed in a
shatterproof casing.

 To calibrate a bi-metallic stemmed thermometer using the ice point method:

1) fill a glass with ice and water; 2) insert the thermometer into the water; 3) the
temperature must read 32°F when steady; if it doesn’t, then 4) adjust the probe from
the nut until it reads 32°F. Then it is properly calibrated.

 When using thermometers: insert the thermometer stem or probe into the
thickest part of the product (usually the center); take more than one reading in
different spots; and wait for the thermometer reading to steady before recording the
temperature.

Food Danger zone: 41°F to 135°F

Pathogens rapid grow: 70°F to 125°F

15
 Chapter 5: The Flow of Food: Purchasing, Receiving, and Storage

 An approved, reputable supplier is one that has been inspected,

meets all applicable local, state, and federal laws, and has
documentation of a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and/or
a Good Agriculture Practice (GAP) program.

 Arrange deliveries so they arrive when staff has enough time to

do inspections and they can be correctly received.

 Receiving principles: make specific staff responsible for receiving

(train them to follow food safety guidelines and provide them
with the right tools – purchase orders, thermometers, scales,
etc.); have enough trained staff available to receive food
promptly (inspect delivery trucks for signs of contamination and
visually check food items and check temperatures); and store
items promptly after receiving.
 In key drop deliveries: the supplier is given after-hour access to the operation to make deliveries. Deliveries
must meet the following criteria: must be inspected upon arrival at the operation; must be from an
approved source; must have been placed in the correct storage location to maintain the required
temperature; must have been protected from contamination in storage; is NOT contaminated; and, must be
honestly presented.
 To reject deliveries: separate rejected items from accepted items; tell the delivery person what is wrong
with the item; get a signed adjustment or credit slip before giving the rejected item to the delivery person;
and log the incident on the invoice or receiving document.

 For food items recalled by the manufacturer: identify the recalled food items; remove the item from
inventory, and place it in a secure and appropriate location (such as a cooler or dry storage); store the item
separately from food, utensils, equipment, linens, and single-use items; label the item in a way that will
prevent it from being placed back in inventory; inform staff not to use the product; and refer to the vendor’s
notification or recall notice to determine what to do with the item.

 To check the temperature of Reduced Oxygen Packaging (ROP) food (*MAP, vacuum-packed, and **sous
vide food): insert the thermometer stem or probe between two packages. As an alternative, fold packaging
around the thermometer stem or probe; avoid puncturing the package. ˄ROP = Reduced-Oxygen Packaging;
*MAP = Modified Atmosphere Packaging (oxygen is replaced with other gases); and **sous vide food is
vacuum sealed and cooked in a water bath.

 To check the temperature of other packaged food: open the package and insert the thermometer stem or
probe into the food (stem/probe must not touch package).

 Temperature criteria for deliveries: reject frozen food if there is evidence of thawing and refreezing (time-
temperature abuse); fluids or water stains in case bottoms or on packaging; and ice crystals or frozen liquids
on the food or packaging.

 Reject food and nonfood packaged items with: tears, holes or punctures in packaging (reject cans with
swollen ends, rust, or dents); bloating or leaking ROP food; broken cartons or seals; dirty and discolored
packaging; leaks, dampness, or water stains; signs of pests or pest damage; expired use-by/expiration dates;
and evidence of tampering.

16
 Required documents: shellfish must be received with shellstock identification tags (tags indicate when and
where the shellfish were harvested, and must be kept on file for 90 days from the date the last shellfish was
used from its delivery container).

 Required documents: for fish that will be eaten raw or partially cooked, documentation must show the fish
was correctly frozen before being received; keep documents for 90 days from the sale of the fish to
consumer. Farm raised fish must have documentation stating the fish was raised to FDA standards; keep
documents for 90 days from the sale of the fish to consumer.

 To assess food quality for time-temperature abuse: check its appearance (reject food that is moldy or has an
abnormal color); check its texture (reject meat, fish, or poultry if it is slimy, sticky, or dry, or if it has soft
flesh that leaves an imprint when touched); and check for odor (reject food with an abnormal or unpleasant
odor).

 Labeling food for use on-site: it is not necessary to label food if it clearly will not be mistaken for another
item (ex: dry pasta); all other items not in their original containers must be labeled; food labels should
include the common name of the food or a statement that clearly and accurately identifies it.

 Labeling food packaged on-site for retail sale: use the common name of the food or a statement clearly
identifying it; label with quantity of the food; if the item contains two or more ingredients, list the
ingredients in descending order by weight; list the artificial colors and flavors in the food including chemical
preservatives; list name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor; and list source of
each major food allergen contained in the food.

 Date marking: ready-to-eat TCS food must be marked if held longer than 24 hours. The date mark must
indicate when the food must be sold, eaten, or thrown out.

 In date marking, ready-to-eat TCS food can be stored for only seven days. If it is held at 41°F (5°C) or lower:
the count beings on the day that the food was prepared or a commercial container was opened. Some
operations write the day or date the food was prepared on the label; others write the use-by date or date
on the label.

 In date marking, if a commercially processed food has a use-by date that is less than seven days from the
date the container was opened, the container should be marked with this use-by date, as long as the date is
based on food safety.

 In date marking, when combining food in a dish with different use-by dates, the discard date of the dish
should be based on the earliest prepared food.

 Temperatures for food storage: store TCS food at an internal temperature of 41°F (5°C) or lower or 135°F
(57°C) or higher; store frozen food at temperatures that keep it frozen; make sure storage units have at least
one air temperature measuring device; it must be accurate to +/-3°F or +/-1.5°C; and place the device in the
warmest part of refrigerated units, and the coldest part of hot-holding units.

 Temperatures for food storage: do NOT overload coolers or freezers (it prevents airflow and makes unit
work harder; also, frequent opening of the cooler lets warm air inside, which can affect food safety); use
open shelving (lined shelving restricts circulation); and monitor food temperatures regularly (randomly
sample food temperatures).

17
 First In, First Out (FIFO): method of stock rotation in which products are shelved based on their use-by or
expiration dates, so oldest products are used first. Throw out food that has passed its manufacturer’s use-by
or expiration date.

 Preventing cross-contamination: Store all items in designated storage areas: store items away from walls
and at least six inches (15 centimeters) off the floor; also store single-use items (e.g., sleeve of single-use
cups, single-use gloves) in original packaging; store food in durable containers intended for food; use
containers that are durable, leak proof, and able to be sealed or covered: NEVER use empty food containers
to store chemicals; and NEVER put food in empty chemical containers; keep all storage areas clean and dry;
clean up spills and leaks immediately; clean dollies, carts, transporters, and trays often; clean floors, walls,
and shelving in coolers, freezers, dry-storage areas, and heated holding cabinets on a regular basis; store
food in containers that have been cleaned an sanitized; store dirty linens in clean, nonabsorbent containers
or washable laundry bags; wrap or cover food and store raw meat, poultry, and seafood separately from
ready-to-eat food. If this if not possible, store ready-to-eat food above raw seafood, meat and poultry (this
will prevent juices from raw food from dripping onto ready-to-eat food; store food items in the following
top-to-bottom order: ready-to-eat food, seafood, whole cuts of beef and pork, ground meat and ground
fish, and whole and grounded poultry. This storage order is based on the minimum internal cooking
temperature of each food.

 Food should be stored in a clean, dry location away from dust and other contaminants. To prevent
contamination, NEVER store food in these areas: locker rooms or dressing rooms, restroom or garbage
rooms, mechanical rooms, under unshielded sewer lines or leaking water lines, and under stairwells.

- Spilled food not cleaned up - Unlabeled items in cooler

- Boxes of food not label - Area not clean
- Food stored on the floor - Overstocked cooler
- Chemicals stored with food - Cooler door open
Here are the unsafe storage practices:

18
 Chapter 6: The Flow of Food: Preparation

 When prepping food: Only remove as much food from the cooler as you can prep in a short period of time
(this limits time-temperature abuse). Return prepped food to the cooler or cook it as quickly as possible.
Make sure workstations, cutting boards, and utensils are clean and sanitized.
 Only use additives approved by your local regulatory authority. NEVER use more additives than are allowed
by law. NEVER use additives to alter the appearance of food. Do NOT sell produce treated with sulfites
before it was received in the operation. NEVER add sulfites to produce that will be eaten raw.
 Do NOT use the following to misrepresent the appearance of food: food additives or color additive, colored
overwraps, lights. Food not represented honestly must be thrown out.
 Food must be thrown out: when it is handled by staff who have been restricted or excluded from the food
operation due to illness; when it is contaminated by hands or bodily fluids from the nose or mouth; When it
has exceeded the time and temperature requirements designed to keep food safe.
Four methods for thawing food:
1. - Thaw food in a cooler, keeping its temperature at 41°F or lower
2. - Submerge food under running water at 70°F or lower. NEVER let the temperature of the food go above 41°F or
lower for longer than four hours
3. - Thaw food in a microwave, only if cooked immediately after thawing
4. - Thaw as part of the cooking process

Produce:
Make sure produce does not touch surfaces exposed to raw meat, seafood, or poultry. Wash it thoroughly under
running water before cutting, cooking, or combining with other ingredients.
Produce can be washed in water containing ozone to sanitize it but check with your local regulatory authority.
When soaking or storing produce in standing water or an ice-water slurry, do not mix different items or multiple
batches of the same item. Refrigerate and hold sliced melons, cut tomatoes, and cut leafy greens at 41°F (5°C) or
lower. Do NOT serve raw seed sprout if primarily serving a high-risk population.
 Handle pooled eggs (if allowed) with care. Cook promptly after mixing or store at 41°F (5°C) or lower. Clean
and sanitize containers between batches. Consider using pasteurized shell eggs or egg products when
prepping dishes that need little or no cooking. When cooking eggs for high-risk populations use pasteurized
shell eggs if eggs will be pooled and when serving raw or undercooked dishes. Unpasteurized shell eggs can
be used if the dish will be cooked all the way through (i.e., omelets, cakes).
 For salads containing TCS food, make sure that the leftover TCS ingredients (i.e., pasta, chicken, potatoes,
etc.) have been handled safely by ensuring that they were cooked, held, and cooled correctly. Store for less
than seven days at 41°F or lower.
 NEVER use ice as an ingredient if it was used to keep food cold. Transfer ice using clean and sanitized
containers and scoops. NEVER hold ice in containers that held chemicals, raw meat, seafood, or poultry.

A Food Service Operation needs to obtain a variance if it prepares food in any of these ways:
Packaging fresh juice on-site for sale at a later time, unless the juice has a warning label
Smoking food to preserve it but not to enhance flavor
Using food additives or components to preserve or alter food so it no longer needs time and temperature control
for safety
Curing food
Packaging food using a reduced-oxygen packaging (ROP) method
Sprouting seeds or beans
Offering live shellfish from a display tank
Custom-processing animals for personal use (i.e. dressing a deer)

19
Cooking Requirements for Specific Types of Food:
 Cook to 165°F for 15 seconds: all poultry, whole or ground (i.e., chicken, turkey, or duck); stuffing made with
fish and/or other meats; stuffed meats with seafood, poultry, and/or pasta; dishes that include previously
cooked TCS ingredients.
 Cook to 155°F for 15 seconds: ground meats; beef, pork, and other meats; injected meat including brined
ham and flavor-injected roasts; mechanically tenderized meat; ratites including ostrich and emu; ground
seafood including chopped or minced seafood. For eggs that will be hot held for service: Hold at 155°F
(68°C) for 15 seconds.
 Cook to 145°F for 15 seconds: seafood, including shellfish, fish and crustaceans; steaks and chops of pork,
beef, veal, and lamb; and commercially raised game. For eggs that will be served immediately: serve at
145°F for 15 seconds.
 Roasts of pork, beef, veal, and lamb: cook to 145°F for 4 minutes.
 Fruits, vegetables, grains (rice, pasta), and legumes (beans, refried beans) that will be hot-held for service:
135°F. (No minimum time)

Cooking TCS Food in a Microwave: meat, seafood, poultry, and eggs: cook to 165°F
Guidelines for microwave cooking: cover food to prevent the surface from drying out; rotate or stir it halfway
through cooking so heat reaches the food more evenly; let it stand for at least two minutes after cooking to let the
food temperature even out; check the temperature in at least two places to make sure the food is cooked through
evenly.
Partial Cooking During Preparation
If partially cooking meat, seafood, poultry, or eggs (or dishes containing any of these items):
1) NEVER cook the food for longer than 60 minutes during the initial cooking cycle.
2) Cool the food immediately after the initial cooking cycle
3) Freeze or refrigerate the food after cooling it properly
4) Reheat the food to at least 165°F (74°C) for 15 seconds before serving it; or
5) Cool the food properly if it will NOT be served immediately, or held for service.

Consumer Advisories
If a food service operation menu includes raw or
undercooked TCS items, it must: note it on the menu
next to the items; asterisk the items; place a
footnote at the menu bottom indicating the item is
raw, undercooked, or contains raw or undercooked
ingredients; advise customers who order this food of
the increased risk of foodborne illness; post a notice
in the menu; and provide this information using
brochures, table tents, or signs. The FDA advises
against offering these items on a children’s menu if
they are raw or undercooked: Meat, poultry,
seafood, and eggs.

20
Cooling Food
Step 1: Cool food from 135°F to 70°F (57°C to 21°C) in less than two hours; Step 2: use the remaining time to cool
it from 41°F or lower, for a total cooling cycle which cannot be longer that six hours.
Before cooling food, start by reducing its size: cut larger items into smaller pieces; divide large containers of food
into smaller containers or shallow pans. Methods for cooling food safely and quickly: place food in an ice-water
bath; stir it with an ice paddle; or place it in a blast chiller. When storing food for further cooling, loosely cover
the food containers before storing them in a cooler. Food can be left uncovered if protected from contamination.
Storing uncovered containers above other food, especially raw seafood, meat, and poultry, will help prevent cross-
contamination.
Reheating Food
Food “prepared in-house” for immediate service may be consumed at, or reheated to any temperature if it was
cooked and cooled correctly. Food “prepared in-house” to be hot-held must be reheated within two hours to an
internal temperature of 165°F for 15 seconds. Then it must be held at 135°F. Ready to Eat (RTE) food
commercially processed and packaged must be reheated to an internal temperature of at least 135°F.

Chapter 7: The Flow of Food: Service

Guidelines for Holding Food
Food covers and sneeze guards protect food from contaminants. Covers protect food from contamination and help
maintain food temperatures.
Hold TCS food at the correct internal temperature.
 Hold hot food at 135°F or higher.
 Hold cold food at 41°F or lower.
 Throw out/discard food that is not 41°F or lower or 135°F or higher
Check food temperatures every two hours to leave time for corrective action. At a minimum, check temperatures at
least every four hours.
NEVER use hot-holding equipment to reheat food unless it is designed for it. Reheat food correctly, and then move
it into a holding unit.

Holding Food without Temperature Control

Your operation may want to display or hold TCS food without temperature control. However, if you primarily serve a
high-risk population, you cannot hold TCS food without temperature control.
Cold food can be held without temperature control for up to six hours if: it was held at 41°F or lower before
removing it from refrigeration; it does not exceed 70°F during service (throw out food that exceeds this
temperature: 70°F; it has a label specifying the time it was removed from refrigeration and the time it must be
thrown out – the total time is within six hours; it is sold, served, or thrown out within six hours.
Hot food can be held without temperature control for up to four hours if: it was held at 135°F or higher before
removing it from temperature control; it has a label specifying the time it was removed from hot-holding and the
time it must be thrown out – the total time is within four hours; it is sold, served, or thrown out within four hours.

Prevent contamination when serving food:

Wear single-use gloves whenever handling ready-to-eat food. As an alternative to single-use gloves, use spatulas,
tongs, deli sheets, or other utensils when serving food; use clean and sanitized utensils for serving food; use
separate utensils for each food; clean and sanitize the utensils after each task; at a minimum, clean and sanitize
them at least once every four hours. Store serving utensils correctly between uses on a clean and sanitized food-
contact surface or in the food with the handle extended above the container rim. Or if you are serving a non-TCS
food item, you can place them on a clean and sanitized food contact surface. Spoons or scoops used to serve food
such as ice cream or mash potatoes can be stored under running water. They can also be stored under running
water that is maintained at a temperature of at least 135°F.
21
Service Staff Guidelines
Service staff must be as careful as kitchen staff. They can contaminate food simply by handling the food-contact
areas of glasses, dishes, and utensils. Service staff should use these guidelines when serving food.

 Hold dishes by the bottom or edge.  Carry glasses in a rack or on a tray to avoid
 Hold glasses by the middle, bottom, or steam. touching the food-contact surfaces.
 Do NOT touch the food-contact areas of dishes  Do NOT stack glasses when carrying them.
or glassware.

 Hold flatware by the handle.  Avoid bare-hand contact with food that is
 Do NOT hold flatware by food-contact surfaces. ready to eat.

 Use ice scoops or tongs to get ice.

 NEVER scoop ice with your bare hands or a glass.
A glass may chip or break.

Present Tableware
If your operation presets tableware on dining table, prevent the tableware from being contaminated by wrapping or
covering the items (i.e., in a napkin, etc.). Table settings do not need to be wrapped or covered if the extra settings
are removed when guests are seated; are cleaned and sanitized after guests have left.
Re-Serving Food
NEVER re-serve food returned by one customer to another customer (i.e., uncovered condiments, uneaten bread,
salsas, chips, or plate garnishes). Generally, unopened prepackaged food in good sanitary condition can be re-served
(i.e., condiment packets, wrapped crackers or individually wrapped breadsticks).
Self-Service Areas
Prevent time-temperature abuse and contamination by using sneeze guards, 14-inches above the food counter and
7 inches beyond the food. Identify all food items by labeling the food (i.e., placing salad dressing names on the ladle
handles).
22
To prevent time-temperature abuse and/or cross-contamination keep hot food at 135°F or higher, and cold food at
41°F or lower; keep raw meat, fish, and poultry separate from ready-to-eat food; do NOT let customers refill dirty
plates or use dirty utensils at self-service areas.

When delivering food off-site: use insulated, food-grade containers designed to stop food from mixing, leaking, or
spilling; clean the inside of delivery vehicles regularly; check internal food temperatures; label food with a use-by
date and time, and reheating and service instructions; make sure the service site has the correct utilities (safe food
for cooking, dishwashing, and handwashing. Garbage containers stored away from food-prep, storage, and serving
areas); store raw meat, poultry, and seafood, and ready-to-eat items separately.

Chapter 8: Food Safety Management Systems

Food safety management systems are a group of practices and procedures intended to prevent foodborne illness.
They control the risks and hazards that may be present throughout the Flow of Food in a food service operation.

The foundation of a food safety management system is:

1) Good personal hygiene practices;
2) Food Safety Training Program;
3) Supplier Selection and Specification Program;
4) Quality Control and Assurance Program;
5) Cleaning and Sanitation Program;
6) Standard Operating Procedures (SOP);
7) Facility Design and Equipment Maintenance Program; and
8) Pest Control Program.

Active Managerial Control focuses on controlling the five most common risk factors for foodborne illness:
1) Purchasing food from unsafe sources;
2) Failing to cook food adequately;
3) Holding food at incorrect temperatures;
4) Using contaminated equipment;
5) Practicing poor personal hygiene.

To achieve active managerial control in the food service operation use:

A) Training Programs;
B) Managerial Supervision;
C) Incorporation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP);
D) Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan.

These are critical to the success of active managerial control: monitoring critical activities in the food service
operation; taking the necessary corrective action when required; verifying that the actions taken control the risk
factors.

The FDA provides recommendations for controlling the common risk factors for foodborne illness: demonstration of
knowledge; staff health controls; controlling hands as a vehicle of contamination; time and temperature parameters
for controlling pathogens; consumer advisories.

The HACCP approach is based on identifying significant biological, chemical, or physical hazards at specific points
within a product’s flow through an operation. Once identified, those hazards can be prevented, eliminated, or
reduced to safe levels.

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To be effective, a HACCP system MUST be based on a written plan. It must be specific to the variables within each
facility’s: a) menu, b) customers, c) equipment, d) processes, and e) operations. A plan that works for one food
service operation may not work for another due to those variables.

The seven HACCP principles:

1. Conduct a hazard analysis
2. Determine critical control points (CCPs)
3. Establish critical limits
4. Establish monitoring procedures
5. Identify corrective actions
6. Verify that the system works
7. Establish procedures for record keeping and documentation

These specialized processing methods require a variance and may require a HACCP plan:
 Smoking food as a method to preserve it (but not to enhance flavor)
 Using food additives or components such as vinegar to preserve or alter food so it no longer requires time
and temperature control for safety
 Curing food
 Custom-processing (wild) animals
 Packaging food using the Reduced Oxygen Packaging (ROP) (including: MAP, vacuum packed, and Sous vide)
methods
 Treating (e.g., pasteurized) juice on-site and packaging it for later sale
 Sprouting seeds or beans

Chapter 9: Safe Facilities and Pest Management

Interior requirements for a safe operation
 Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and durable for easier cleaning and regularly maintained.
 Foodservice equipment must meet these standards if it will come in contact with food: nonabsorbent,
smooth, and corrosion resistant; easy to clean; durable; resistant to damage.

Floor-mounted equipment must be either six inches off the floor or sealed to a masonry base.
Tabletop equipment should be four inches off the floor or sealed to the countertop.
Once the foodservice equipment has been installed it must be maintained regularly. Only qualified people should
maintain it. Set up a maintenance schedule with your supplier or manufacturer and check the foodservice
equipment regularly to make sure it is working correctly.
Dishwashing equipment must be installed so it is reachable and conveniently located; in such a way that keeps
utensils, equipment, and other food-contact surfaces from becoming contaminated; following the manufacturer’s
instructions.
When selecting dishwashing equipment, make sure that the detergents and sanitizers used are approved by the
local regulatory authority; they have the ability to measure water temperature, water pressure, and cleaning and
sanitizing chemical concentration; and that information about the correct settings is posted on the machine.

Handwashing stations must be conveniently located.

They are required in: restrooms, food-prep areas, service areas, and in the dishwashing area.
Handwashing sinks must be used only for handwashing.

Handwashing stations must have: Hot and cold running water, soap, a sanitary way to dry hands, a garbage
container, and signage (i.e. “All employees must wash hands before returning to work”).

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Water and Plumbing

 Some acceptable sources of drinkable water are: approved public

water mains; regularly tested and maintained private sources; closed,
portable water containers; and water transport vehicles.

 Cross-connection is the physical contact point or link where

contaminated water meets the potable water supply. The physical
link is dangerous because it increases the opportunity of back-flow,
or the unwanted reverse flow of contaminants, such as those from
drains, sewers, or other sources of wastewater into the
establishment’s potable water system. It occurs when the pressure in
the potable water supply drops below the pressure of the
contaminated supply.

 Regarding backflow prevention, an air gap is the air space that is

needed to maintain the separation of a water supply outlet from any
potentially contaminated water source. An air gap prevents
Back-flow.

Consider the following when installing and maintaining lighting: Different

areas of the facility have different lighting intensity requirements; local jurisdictions usually require prep areas to
be brighter than other areas. All lights should have shatter-resistant light bulbs or protective covers. Replace any
burned-out bulbs with the correct size light bulbs.

Ventilation systems must be cleaned and maintained to prevent grease and condensation build-up on walls and
ceilings.

Garbage
Garbage should be removed from prep areas as quickly as possible. Clean the inside and the outside of garbage
containers frequently. Indoor garbage containers must be leak-proof, waterproof, and pest-resistant; easy to clean
and covered when not in use. Outdoor garbage containers must be placed on a smooth, durable, nonabsorbent
surface, and have tight-fitting lids for optimal maintenance.

Emergencies that affect the facility

Certain crisis can affect the safety of the food you serve. Some of the common include electrical power outages, fire,
flooding, and sewage backups. These are considered by the local regulatory authority to be imminent health
hazards. An imminent health hazard is a significant threat or danger to health that requires immediate correction or
closure to prevent injury.

Other threats should be considered:

- Temperature control: Power failures and refrigeration breakdowns can threaten your ability to control
temperature of TCS food. This can result in the growth of pathogens.

- Physical security: Unauthorized people inside a facility are risk to food safety.

- Drinkable water supply: Broken water main and breakdowns at water at water treatment facilities are a risk to the
safety of food.

When faced with any of these crises, you must first determine if there is a significant risk to the safety or security of
your food. If the risk is significant, service must be stopped. Then the local regulatory authority must be notified.

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Pest Management
Three rules of pest prevention:
1) Deny pests access to the operation;
2) Deny pests food, water, and shelter; and
3) Work with a licensed pest control operator (PCO).

 To keep pests from entering with food deliveries, check them before they enter the food service operation.
Refuse shipments if pests or signs of pests (egg cases, body parts) are found. Make sure all of the points
where pests can access the building are secure: screen windows and vents, seal cracks in floors and walls
and around pipes. Install air curtains (also called air doors or fly fans) above or alongside doors.
 To deny pests shelter (outside): throw out garbage quickly and correctly; keep garbage containers clean and
in good condition; keep outdoor garbage containers tightly covered. Clean up spills around garbage
containers immediately; store recyclables correctly. Keep recyclables in clean, pest-proof containers, and
then keep the garbage containers as far away from the building as regulations allow.
 To deny pests shelter (inside): store food and supplies quickly and correctly; keep them away from walls and
at least six inches (15 centimeters) off the floor; rotate products First in First out (FIFO) so pests cannot
settle and breed; clean the food service operation thoroughly; clean up food and beverage spills
immediately; clean break rooms after use; keep cleaning tools and supplies clean and dry.

Chapter 10: Cleaning and Sanitizing

Cleaners must be stable, noncorrosive and safe to use.

When using them: follow the manufacturers’ instructions; do not use one type of detergent in
place of another unless the intended use is the same.

Surfaces can be sanitized using: Heat (the water must be at least 171F and immerse the item for 30 seconds); or
Chemicals (Chlorine, Iodine, or Quaternary Ammonia (Quats)).

Chemical sanitizing: food-contact surfaces can be sanitized by soaking them in a sanitizing solution or rinsing,
swabbing, or spraying them with a sanitizing solution. In some cased a detergent-sanitizer blend can be used (use it
once to clean and a second time to sanitize.)

Sanitizer Effectiveness
Concentration: Sanitizers should be mixed with water to the correct concentration: not enough sanitizer may make
the solution weak and useless. Too much sanitizer may make the solution too strong, unsafe, toxic, and may
corrode metal.
Check concentration with a test kit; make sure it is designed for the sanitizer used; check the concentration often.
Change the solution when: it is dirty; or with the concentration is too low.
Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for the correct temperature.
The sanitizer must make contact with the object for a specific amount of time. Minimum times differ for each
sanitizer.
Find out what your water hardness and pH is from your municipality. Work with your supplier to identify the correct
amount of sanitizer to use.

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General Guidelines for the Effective Use of Chlorine, Iodine, and Quats
Chlorine Iodine Quats
Water temperature ≥ 100°F ≥ 75°F 68°F 75°F
≤ 5 or as per
As per manufacturer’s
Water pH ≤ 10 ≤8 manufacturer’s
recommendation
recommendation
≤ 500 ppm or as per
As per manufacturer’s
Water hardness As per manufacturer’s recommendation manufacturer’s
recommendation
recommendation
Sanitizer As per manufacturer’s
50-99 ppm 50-99 ppm 12.5-25 ppm
concentration recommendation
Sanitizer
≥ 7 seconds ≥ 7 seconds ≥ 30 seconds ≥ 30 seconds
contact time

Steps for cleaning and sanitizing surfaces are: scrape or remove food bits, wash, rinse, sanitize, and air dry.

All food contact surfaces need to be cleaned and sanitized at these times:
 After they are used
 Before foodhandlers start working with different type of food
 Any time an interruption takes place during a task and the items being used may become contaminated
 After four hours of continual use

When Cleaning and Sanitizing Stationary Equipment: Unplug the equipment; take the removable parts off the
equipment; wash, rinse, and sanitize them by hand or run the parts through a dishwasher if allowed; scrape or
remove food from the equipment surfaces; wash the equipment surfaces; rinse the equipment surfaces with clean
water; sanitize the equipment surfaces; make sure the sanitizer comes in contact with each surface; allow all
surfaces to airdry; put the unit back together.

High temperature dishwashing machines have a sanitizing temperature of 180°F in the final rinse cycle.

Chemical-sanitizing machines clean and sanitize items at a much lower temperature (120°F) than other dishwashing
machine.

Dishwashing Operation
Guidelines: Clean the machine as often as needed: scrape, rinse, or soak items before washing; use the correct dish
racks; NEVER overload dish racks; air-dry all items; check the machine’s water temperature and pressure.

Setting up a three-compartment sink: Clean and sanitize each sink and drain board; fill the first sink with detergent
and water at least 110°F (43°C); fill the second sink with clean water; fill the third sink with water and sanitizer to
the correct concentration; provide a clock with a second hand to let food handlers know how long items have been
in the sanitizer.

Steps for cleaning and sanitizing in a three compartment sink: rinse, scrape, or soak items before washing them;
wash items in the first sink; rinse items in the second sink; sanitize items in the third sink; air-dry items on a clean
and sanitized surface.

When storing clean and sanitized tableware and equipment; store them at least six inches (15 centimeters) off the
floor; clean and sanitize drawers and shelves before items are stored; store glasses and cups upside down on a
clean and sanitized shelf or rack; store flatware and utensils with handle up; cover the food-contact surfaces of
stationary equipment until ready for use; and clean and sanitize trays and carts used to carry clean tableware and
utensils.

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Clean nonfood-contact surfaces regularly (includes floors, ceilings, walls, equipment exteriors, etc.): Prevent dust,
dirt, food residue and other debris from building up.

Develop a plan for cleaning up diarrhea and vomit in the operation. It can carry Norovirus, which is highly
contagious. Correct cleanup can prevent food from becoming contaminated and others from getting sick.
Consider the following when developing a plan for cleaning up of vomit and diarrhea: How you will contain liquid
and airborne substances, and remove them from the operation; how you will clean, sanitize, and disinfect surfaces;
when to throw out food that may have been contaminated; what equipment needed to clean up these substances,
and how it will be cleaned and disinfected after use; when a food handler must wear personal protective
equipment; how staff will be notified of the correct procedures for containing, cleaning, and disinfecting these
substances; how to segregate contaminated areas from other areas; when staff must be restricted from working
with or around food, or excluded from working in the operation; how sick customers will be quickly removed from
the operation; and, how the cleaning plan will be implemented.

Store cleaning tools and chemicals in a separate area away from food and prep areas.

NEVER dump mop water or other liquid waste into toilets or urinals; NEVER clean tools in sinks used for
handwashing, food prep, dish washing.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has requirements for using chemicals in foodservice
operations. OSHA requires chemical manufacturers and suppliers to provide Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
for every hazardous chemical they sell. The sheets contain information about the chemical; safe use and handling;
physical, health, fire, and reactivity hazards; precautions; protective equipment to wear; manufacturer’s name,
address, and phone number; preparation date of MSDS; and hazardous ingredients and identity information.
MSDS are usually sent with chemicals delivered. MSDS must be kept visible and available to employees of the
operation at all times.

Foodservice Chemicals: Only purchase those approved for use in foodservice operations; store them in their
original containers away from food and food-prep areas. If transferring them to a new container, label it with the
common name of the chemical; keep MSDS for each chemical. When throwing chemicals out, follow instructions on
the label and local regulatory requirements.

Cleaning Program
To develop an effective cleaning program, create a master cleaning schedule; train your staff to follow it; and
monitor the program to make sure it works. To create a master cleaning schedule, identify: what should be cleaned;
who should clean it; when it should be cleaned; and how it should be cleaned.
When monitoring the cleaning program: supervise the daily cleaning routines; check the cleaning tasks against the
master schedule every day; change the master schedule as needed; and ask the staff for input on the program.
When developing a cleaning program for a food operation, training employees to follow the program is the key to
its success.

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