Christmas Special: Food Safety Information for caterers, restaurants, bars and food retailers
It is estimated that over 5-6 million turkeys are consumed each year, with national consumption spiking over Christmas.
Food businesses such as caterers, restaurants, bars and food retailers (supermarkets, delis, and butchers) are required by food safety laws (Food Safety Act 1991) to have in place measures to protect consumers against food poisoning.
During the busier seasons such as Christmas, and New Year, food business staff rushing around to get all the poultry and sides prepared and served, cooking mistakes can be made and consumers can fall ill. According to Food Standards Australia New Zealand, the majority of poultry-associated food-borne disease outbreaks stem from mistakes made when handling and preparing food or inadequate cooking.
Luckily, we’ve compiled a few tips that will help keep your business protected and consumers safe.
Remind staff to wash hands—not the turkey.
Provide hand wash stations with antibacterial soap. It is also a good idea to display signage to remind your staff when, and how to wash their hands. ISOsafe can provide your food business with the appropriate signage to help your business comply with food safety laws in your state or territory.
Washing poultry does not eliminate bacteria; to kill bacteria you need to adequately cook the turkey to the correct internal temperature.
Safely thaw your turkey.
There are 3 safe ways to thaw turkey: in the refrigerator, in a sink filled with cold water that is changed at 30-minute intervals, or in the microwave.
While turkey remains frozen in the freezer it is safe, but when you’re thawing turkey, it needs to defrost at a safe temperature.
Staff should never let the turkey defrost on counters because when it is left out for over 2 hours, the temperature of the turkey can become unsafe. Once the temperature reaches the “danger zone,” 4 to 60 °C, bacteria will quickly grow.
Should you stuff the turkey?
No. The safest way to cook stuffing is in a separate dish.
Even though the turkey may be cooked to the correct temperature, the stuffing inside it may not have reached the same safe temperature that would eliminate all bacteria.
However, if your business does sell cooked, stuffed turkey, ensure staff use a food thermometer to gage that the stuffing’s centre has reached 74° C (165°F).
Cook your turkey safely.
It is important to ensure that the turkey is cooked to the correct internal temperature. The oven should be set to at least 163°C (325°F).
We recommend testing for doneness in the following 3 areas: the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the wing, and the innermost part of the thigh. All 3 areas should be 74° C (165°F).
Remember the 2-hour rule.
Do not leave any foods on bench tops and counters for more than 2 hours because bacteria—such as Clostridium perfringens—will grow. C. perfringens, is the second most common cause of food poisoning. In fact, outbreaks of this bacteria most commonly spring up around Christmas and have been linked to foods that are commonly served throughout the holiday season.