While Covid-19 is forcing many restaurants to make alternative plans regarding how they can run their businesses. The need for takeout and delivery has seen a spike. However, there are new safety measures that should be followed so that people can keep ordering from the same place.
In The Kitchen
Let’s start at the beginning: the preparation of the food. This can be for ready-made meals to ingredients to go out to customers. When the food is being prepared make sure that everyone has more than enough space not only to do their jobs well but to adhere to social distancing (two meters/ six feet apart). Also that the space is clean and kept so, as well as disinfected regularly. However, the food should be kept separate from the disinfectant chemicals. Everyone involved (chefs and food delivery drivers) should wash their hands well using soap and water or hand sanitizer.
Packaging
The next step would be to make sure that the package is good. Hot and cold food should be separated from each other even if they are going to the same place. The food should be kept at a temperature that suits it. This is below 41 Fahrenheit (5 Degrees Celsius) for cold food and above Fahrenheit (57. 2 Degrees Celsius) for cooked foods. However, the amount of time the food is out of the temperature enclosure (on delivery) should be limited to two hours only.
Once the food is ready to go and the order has been checked it goes into the packaging that should have a seal on it. Adhesive seals can work for paper packaging. But plastic tabs with tamper-evident labels or seals can also do the trick. And make sure everything is secure in the carry bag before the traveling begins.
However, some places offer food to be prepared at customer’s homes, such as Chef Jorge Luis Morales Cruz’s Cocina Movil. Here the packaging of the food is also important and all the equipment should be cleaned before and when the chefs arrive. Plus, everyone should wear gloves and masks while keeping social distancing. You can hop over to their Facebook page for more information and to get in touch if you are in Puerto Rico.
Drop-Off
The drop-off should have minimum interaction between the delivery person and the customer. Payment can be done online or with the use of a card since it is seen to be safer than using cash. Gloves should also be worn by the delivery people with their masks covering their nose and face.
When the carry bag is back in the restaurant it should be wiped down with disinfectant or thrown away if it is worn-down or it cannot be cleaned well.
Conclusion
Keeping to social distancing and cleaning regularly as well as making sure the package is secure is the best way to keep food safety up. Following the above steps can help give the clients peace of mind while they munch down on their delicious meals.
