I don't want to be pessimistic, but the public is fickle, and once COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, people got tired of washing their hands pretty quickly. You may have searched the internet for the term "proper handwashing technique" in 2020 and perhaps even sent the link to a family member or friend. But according to new findings revealed at Nation's Restaurant News' 2023 Food Safety Symposium, that vigilance has faded like a summer sunset, even in restaurants.
Hazel Analytics analyzed data from 2 million restaurant inspections conducted between September 2022 and September 2023, and lax handwashing was the leading cause of FDA food regulation violations (which likely explains why an annual food safety symposium is necessary). Other culprits include incorrect cooling temperatures and inadequate disinfection of surfaces that come into direct contact with food. Overall, 66% of these violations posed a risk of foodborne illness outbreaks.
Many restaurants have closed or significantly reduced their hours since the pandemic, which may have reduced the risk of food safety failures. In 2021, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service received fewer reports of food recalls, which would have been good news if people had followed stricter hygiene practices. On the other hand, it could also mean that people were overwhelmed by other variables and that memories that should have been remembered fell through the cracks. A CDC report released earlier this year found that 40% of restaurant food poisoning cases are linked to worker illnesses .
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Restrictions and monitoring of the population have been relaxed.
It should be noted that preventive health and safety measures such as handwashing have generally declined as pandemic restrictions have been eased. By 2022, strict handwashing regulations had already decreased significantly compared to two years earlier. The number of Americans washing their hands daily has declined by about 25% . The Food Standards Agency also recorded a decline in the UK during this period , noting that in many non-restaurant food establishments, such as cafes and pubs, customer handwashing facilities are often unusable or unavailable (or simply not available). are very common practice). , clubs and sports stadiums. Another important factor is consumer behavior. Many foodies have started eating at home more during the pandemic (a trend that has largely continued), which has also led to fewer restaurant visits and perhaps a reduction in the number of potential incidents.
A lot has changed over the years. However, the professional kitchen remains a high-volume, high-speed, high-stress area, and when optimal performance is critical (particularly in the modern, competitive foodservice scene), "background practices" such as dishwashing and sanitizing can be ignored. . . As a reminder, the CDC says it's a good idea to wash your hands and rub them vigorously for 20 to 30 seconds before, during and after preparing food. (You should be able to hum "Happy Birthday" twice.)
Read the original article on Tasting Table .
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