Food sanitation refers to the state of cleanliness and maintenance of sanitary conditions in a food establishment to prevent the occurrence of foodborne illnesses. It includes several different operations that help maintain the cleanliness of the entire facility, food contact surfaces, equipment, and other points of the food supply chain. The main objective of food sanitation is to minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses by making the working environment of food handlers free from food safety hazards.
Sanitation is a fundamental aspect of food safety, as safe food cannot be produced in the absence of hygienic conditions. Sanitation includes the methods, procedures, and chemicals used to clean food processing equipment, as well as hygienic design of facilities and equipment and food worker hygiene.
Some key aspects of food sanitation include:
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Cleanliness: A food establishment is always expected to work in a clean and conducive place. The surrounding environment of a restaurant must be clean enough to prevent attracting any foodborne pathogens that may cause food poisoning to the customers.
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Sanitizing: Sanitizing is the creation and maintenance of conditions that will prevent food contamination or foodborne illness and lower levels of disease-causing microorganisms to a safe level. It involves using the right cleaners and disinfectants and procedures for the right purpose to create a safe environment for customers.
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Personnel training: Regardless of the type of processing or food handling operation, the number one consideration in food sanitation is people. It is people who set the rules, follow the rules, and also break the rules of sanitation. A sanitation program is as good as the attitude, willingness, and efforts of people. That is why the most important aspect of a sanitation program is ongoing personnel training.
In summary, food sanitation is a critical aspect of food safety that involves maintaining hygienic conditions in food establishments to prevent the occurrence of foodborne illnesses. It includes several different operations such as cleanliness, sanitizing, and personnel training.
