Use this list a starting point for your food safety knowledge – we’ve covered some of the basic areas that you will need to be familiar with and some further resources.

Need a Course?

This article provides an overview of food hygiene rules and guidance. If you are managing food hygiene in a business setting then our Level 3 Food Hygiene Training is a comprehensive online course covering every aspect of food hygiene legislation.

Personal Hygiene

• Correct hand washing is essential to prevent contamination.
• Always wash your hands in the specialist basin provided (never the sink used for washing equipment or food as this leads to contamination).
• Once wet, soap should be rubbed vigorously into hands, ensuring each hand is cleaned, including the fingertips, between the fingers and the wrist and forearm. 15-20 seconds should be spent rubbing soap in.
• Hands should be dried in a hygienic manner such as an air dryer, paper towel or clean roller towel. Using cloths, tea towels or overalls will cause contamination, so should be avoided.
• You should not wear watches, brooches, jewelled rings or earrings as they can gather dirt and bacteria and could drop into food. Avoid strong smelling perfumes and heavy makeup, as these can taint food products, especially those in high fat e.g. butter and cheese.
• Nobody suffering from the following illnesses should handle food: Diarrhoea or vomiting, skin infections or heavy colds, discharges from the eyes or ears.

Read more here: Personal Hygiene Tips for Food Service Staff

Food Hazards

• Keep raw and high risk foods separate.
• Keep foods out of the temperature danger zone – below 5°C or above 63°C.
• Make sure you use tongs or other utensils to make sure that food is handled as little as possible.
• Keep other raw foods away from foods that could also be contaminated by them.
• To kill bacteria, food must be cooked thoroughly (at least 70°C for 2 minutes). High risk foods that are eaten immediately following cooking are safe, providing the cooking temperature has been sufficiently high. If food is not to be eaten immediately and kept hot, it is necessary to use equipment which will hold the food at a temperature of 63°C or above.

Chilling and Freezing Food

• The freezer should be operating at a maximum temperature of -18°C.
• Check the temperature of your fridge regularly and record it. Ideally it should be 1°C – 4°C. Take care not to leave the door open for long periods.
• Do not overload food above the load line in a freezer and label all foods with the correct dates to ensure that stock is rotated correctly.
• If you don’t have a separate fridge for raw foods, ensure that you keep the raw foods on the lower shelves with other foods above them.
• Do not put hot foods directly into the fridge.

Read more here: Do You Know Which Fridge Shelves You Should Store Your Food On?

Preventing Cross-contamination

• Clean work surfaces where raw meat and poultry have been handled, immediately after doing so.
• Keep utensils and equipment used in the preparation of raw meats and poultry separate from those used for other foods. If this is not possible, they must be washed and disinfected before being used on other foods.
• Maintain a high standard of general cleanliness of worktops and equipment.
• Keep separate cloths and chopping boards for use with different kinds of food.
• Keep wiping cloths used in raw food areas out of other areas. Use a disposable cloth if available.
• Work with clean cloths, disinfect them regularly. Remember a cloth is only as clean as the last place it wiped!

Serving Food

To maintain good hygiene control, food handlers must:

• Use tongs or spoons to pick up food (one for each kind of food).
• Place paper, polythene or a container on scales and weighing machines before using them.
• Never handle food and money at the same time.
• Make sure animals are kept out of food premises (except guide dogs in shops).
• Keep foods covered and away from the serving counter to prevent customers sneezing on them.

Read more here: Food Borne Diseases: A Complete List

Stock Control

• Foods should be bought from reputable suppliers. Regular checks need to be made to ensure physical objects or chemicals are not contaminating foods.
• Move old stock to the front of the fridge where it will be used first.
• Place new stock underneath old stock in freezers.
• Rotate fresh produce by date and condition. Use the ripe fruit first, leaving the less ripe fruit for later.
• Remember the acronym FIFO – First In First Out.

Waste

• Food waste and packaging rubbish must be disposed of properly as it can be a source of both bacterial and physical contamination.
• There should be bins both inside and outside.
• Indoor bins should have lids and ideally be foot operated and lined with a disposable polythene sack.
• Rubbish should be removed throughout the day to a dustbin with a tight fitting lid or a skip with a lid.

Read more here: 17 Ways to Reduce Food Waste in Your Restaurant

Running a Business

If you are running food hygiene premises you must make sure that:

• You register the premises with the local authority.
• The premises are designed, constructed, maintained and operated in a manner to prevent food contamination.
• There are adequate washing and personal hygiene facilities for staff.
• All staff are trained to an appropriate level and supervised to work hygienically.
• Appropriate action is taken to prevent the risk from food hazards.

What to Read Next:

• How Often Should I Renew My Food Hygiene and Safety Certificate?
• Food Safety Myths and Facts
• Health and Safety in the Kitchen Quiz
• The Importance of Food Hygiene Training
• Serving Medium Cooked Burgers – Safety Guidance
• What Type of Training Must Food Handlers Receive by Law?
• Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety for Catering Training

The post Food Hygiene Rules and Guidance appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

Use the contents below to jump to a certain section of the article.

• Bonfire and Firework Safety
• Alternatives to Bonfire and Fireworks for Bonfire Night 2022
• Bonfire Night Preparations: Buying Fireworks
• Keeping Pets Safe: Dogs, Cats & Small Animals
• Fireworks Health and Safety Considerations
• Bonfire Night Party Food and Drink Inspiration

Bonfire and Firework Safety

If you’re having your own bonfire or firework display this year, you need to remember that both can be very dangerous. Last year, the London Fire Brigade attended over 2,000 incidents over the Halloween and Bonfire Night period.

If you haven’t set off fireworks or lit a bonfire before, it’s important that you fully understand how to do so safely. Visit our article Bonfire & Firework Safety: Assessing The Risks to find out how to ensure your bonfires or firework displays are safe by following the Firework Code.

If you don’t feel comfortable setting off fireworks or having a bonfire, or believe you won’t be able to do so safely, you should commemorate the day in a different way.

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Alternatives to Bonfire and Fireworks for Bonfire Night

It’s worth mentioning that most local councils and fire and rescue services, such as the London Fire Brigade, strongly discourage setting off fireworks or having bonfires in private gardens. This is because they can be incredibly dangerous and a health and safety risk to those involved and nearby.

Instead of setting off fireworks or having a bonfire, emergency services and local councils are suggesting alternative events for your Bonfire Night party. For example, you could:

• Light some sparklers and use these in your garden. These should be lit one at a time, gloves must always be worn, and a bucket of water kept close by. If there are children present, they must be supervised when using the sparklers, and children under five should not be given them at all.
• Bake some traditional Bonfire Night treats such as toffee apples or parkin. This can be a fun and tasty activity for both children and adults alike. You could also make some mulled cider or apple juice. Keep reading for some recipe inspiration!
• Gather inside and play some board games or other party activities. This is another activity that can bring your family together and make something of the evening. If you do have a fireplace, you could always light that to create an alternative kind of bonfire.

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Bonfire Night Preparations: Buying Fireworks

It is essential that you buy fireworks for your party that meet the required safety standards. When purchasing fireworks, make sure that they are CE marked and British Standard compliant. British Standard fireworks have undergone rigorous criteria to ensure they are safe for the general public to use.

The fireworks you purchase should say on the label that they comply with British Standard BS 7114 Category 2. This category means that they are safe to be set off in an enclosed outdoor area such as a garden.

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Keeping Pets Safe: Dogs, Cats & Small Animals

According to the RSPCA, 45% of dogs in the UK show signs of fear when they hear fireworks. In order to make your party fun for everyone – including your dogs and cats – you can make some simple changes during your party.

• It is always a good idea to provide your pet with a hiding place in the house where they will always feel safe if anything distresses them. An example of this could be under furniture or inside a cupboard. Don’t try to coax your pet out of their spot – this can cause further distress.
• If you need to walk your dog, try and do this during daylight hours to avoid the times when fireworks are likely to be set off. Keep your cat indoors during evenings.
• It is advisable to close all curtains and drown out the noise of the fireworks using music or the television.
• If you have smaller animals such as rabbits or guinea pigs, or any other pets that live outside, partly cover their cages with blankets so that one area is well sound-proofed. Make sure that your pet is still able to look out. Put extra budding in the cage so the animals can burrow in to escape the noise.
• For more information on spotting the signs of distress in pets, check out this piece from Vets Now.

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Fireworks Health and Safety Considerations

To ensure everyone is kept safe during your Bonfire Night party, you should:

• Insist that everyone watches the fireworks from one side only. Don’t let your guests stand around the fireworks, as it is harder to make sure everyone is a safe distance away. Lights your fireworks on a sturdy, flat surface, avoiding any piles of leaves or foliage.
• Make sure you have a bucket filled with water to soak any used fireworks or fireworks which have failed to go off in. It is also a good idea to have a hose nearby to douse down any fires which could ignite as a result of the fireworks.
• Never let children light fireworks. This should be done by a responsible adult who has not drunk alcohol beforehand. Sparklers are not recommended for children under 5.
• Light one firework at a time. If it doesn’t go off after the fuse has burnt all the way down then it is probably a dud. However, wait half an hour before putting any duds into the bucket of water. Make sure that the firework has finished before lighting the next one. When lighting the fireworks, use a long-tipped lighter to keep your hands away from the flame.
• Never smoke near fireworks. Also choose to wear cotton clothing if you are lighting the fireworks so if you get burnt it doesn’t stick to your skin. If the weather is particularly windy, it is recommended that you don’t light the fireworks at all.

You can find more information on bonfire night safety in our article Bonfire & Firework Safety: Assessing the Risks.

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Bonfire Night Party Food and Drink Inspiration

We’ve selected a handful of recipes that we think will go down a treat at your bonfire party. If you’re having fireworks or a bonfire, then ideally the food you serve needs to be easy to eat whilst watching fireworks and warming. You can also have fun making your sweet treats in advance with children – have a go at homemade toffee apples, cupcakes or bonfire toffee.

Hot Dogs

So now you know how to have a safe and successful bonfire night, you need some good food and drink to top it off. The BBC Good Food website has some great ideas for bonfire night treats. One that we think is a great idea is their recipe for ‘hot diggedy dogs’, a quick and easy way to make a delicious Bonfire Night classic that adults and kids will both enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp sunflower oil
• 6 large pork sausages
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 1 tsp yellow mustard seeds
• 6 big flour tortillas
• 2 tbsp tomato relish

Method:

Heat your oven to 180 °C for a fan oven (200 °C for a conventional oven). Pour the oil into the tin and allow it to heat up. Add the sausages to the hot tin and roast for 10 minutes.

Move the sausages to the outer edges of the tin and then scatter the sliced onion in the centre. Sprinkle the onion slices with the mustard seeds, add some salt and pepper, and turn the sausages to coat them in the hot oil. Return the dish to the oven for 10 to 15 minutes until the onions are golden and the sausages are completely cooked through.

You can heat the flour tortillas in the oven, microwave or in a dry frying pan to make them softer and easier to roll. Place a sausage and some onion on each one, top with a spoonful of relish and roll, folding the bottom over. Serve straight away. You can serve them to your party guests in paper napkins, meaning less washing up!

Mulled Apple Juice

To complete your bonfire night festivities you need a good drink. There is nothing better than a nice mulled apple juice, an alternative to an alcoholic mulled wine and suitable for all ages.

Ingredients:

• 1 litre apple juice
• 1 orange, with the peel in strips
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 whole cloves
• Sugar or honey, to taste

Method:

1. Combine all the ingredients except the sugar or honey in a non-stick saucepan.
2. Simmer gently for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Sweeten with sugar or honey, to taste.
4. Serve hot in mugs. Please note it may need time to cool down first!

Mulled Cider

If the adults fancy something similar but a little stronger, then why not make a mulled cider. Jamie Oliver has a great recipe for this:

Ingredients:

• 2 litres good-quality traditional cider
• 6 cloves
• 3-4 star anise
• ¼ nutmeg, finely grated into the pan
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 vanilla pod, halved
• juice of 1 orange
• juice of 2 clementines
• 1 pomegranate, juice and seeds of
• 4–5 tablespoons caster sugar

Method:

1. Pour the cider into a large pan on a low heat and warm through for a few minutes.
2. Add all the spices and juices and turn the heat up.
3. Once boiling, turn down to a simmer for 5–8 minutes.
4. Taste the cider and if you need to, then add sugar.
5. The key is not having it too sweet but the sugar can blend in with the other spices. When the flavours are just right, ladle it into mugs and serve warm.

If you have success with these recipes, tag us in your photos on twitter @hst.

Further Resources:

• Bonfire Night and Firework Safety: Assessing the Risks
• Fire Safety Quiz
• Fire Safety Awareness Course

The post Planning the Perfect Bonfire Night Party appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.