Straight From The Field: DETACHABLE PARTS

The photo below is of an in-use chopper’s face-plate that was observed during a recent food service inspection performed by one of our inspectors.

Her account follows:

The employee told me the piece didn’t come off, so I showed him the wing nuts and he pried it apart with a spatula.  The manager saw the photo and decided they needed a new one
because of the broken corner.  The employee thoroughly cleaned the piece before reattaching it to the chopper.

     – Jen Birdsong, EHS3

It is important that meat slicers, choppers, and all equipment with removable parts be taken apart for thorough cleaning to minimize the possibility of cross contamination.  The FDA has more information, along with a poster (available  in English and Spanish), for your use at the following link:

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/RetailFoodProtection/IndustryandRegulatoryAssistanceandTrainingResources/ucm240666.htm

Blue Bell Ice Cream Recall Expanded To All Products

Check your freezer again!

The recent Blue Bell ice cream recall has been expanded to all of their products that are currently on the market.  More information is available here:

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm443724.htm

New Food Safety Partnership Panel on Personal Hygiene and Employee Health

The people factor, as it pertains to food safety, is so important that it is addressed at the beginning of Georgia’s Rules and Regulations Governing Food Service.  This topic is also the focus of our most recent Food Safety Partnership Panel episode.  Watch the video for a review of the components to include in every Employee Health Policy.

This video may also be viewed on Cobb-TV 23 and Douglas-TV 23.  Additionally, all of our Food Safety Partnership Panel videos are posted on our website.

More tools to assist you in this area will be posted in the near future, so stay tuned!