Food Safety Essay

601 Words3 Pages
Food safety and the prevention of food borne illness are imperative in daycares and early education environments that attend to children from zero to five. Immune systems of children under the age of five are not fully developed. If food (or surfaces) becomes bacteria contaminated serious medical conditions and even death in this population can occur. Knowledge of safety standards and documented compliance ensures the health and well being of children in care settings. Planning a menu, preparation, and cooking are components of making a meal. Essential to the process is work surface sanitation along with clean cooking pans and utensils. Hands should be washed prior to cooking, and gloves worn when applicable. Surfaces should be disinfected with hot soapy water, and then sanitized by spraying and wiping with a disinfecting solution of ¼ cup household bleach mixed with 1 gallon of water. Prior to use, food vessels and utensils should be washed within a dishwasher with a water temperature of 165(F and a rinse water temp of 180(F. If a dishwasher is not available dishes should be washed in hot soapy water, rinsed, and then sanitized in a chlorine bleach soak of 1 tablespoon chlorine bleach to 1gallon water for a minute; dishes should air dry. When storing food for a childcare center it is important to have a storeroom with shelves, refrigerator and/or freezer. Thermometers should be placed in storeroom, refrigerator, and freezer. Temperatures should be checked daily and recorded. Dry foods that don’t need to be kept cold should be stored at least 6 inches above the floor with a room temperature between 50(F and 70(F. Cold foods should be stored in a refrigerator with temperatures between 35( and 38(F, and stored in sealed containers to prevent cross contamination. A freezer with a temperature of 0(F should be used for frozen food. When food products
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