Food Storage: The Legislation Uncovered

Posted : 23rd Dec 2009
Author : Catersales

Food safety and quality are important for both businesses and consumers. If companies sell unfit or poor quality food they could face prosecution and so it is essential that firms invest in the appropriate food storage solutions. Now, Catersales, the leading supplier of  Display Fridges and Catering Equipment urge all businesses to make sure they take account of all the relevant food storage legislation.
 
As well as the potential for prosecution, businesses who serve food that is spoilt, contaminated by foreign bodies or causes food poisoning may face significant reputational damage and consumer confidence in their products. It is therefore vital that food is stored correctly to protect the safety of consumers and the integrity and profitability of a business.
 
New EU food hygiene regulations have been in place since 1 January 2006. These cover a wide range of issues relating to the storage and preparation of food and with the Food standards Agency now responsible for policing food hygiene it is more important than ever that businesses are storing their foods correctly.
 
Gonul Hasan, Managaing Director of the Refrigeration Equipment specialists said, “There are various key areas that firms should consider when looking to comply with food storage regulations. Possibly the most important is to ensure that all chilled foodstuffs are refrigerated correctly. This can be as simple as making sure that Fridges are kept below the required temperature, that food is covered and that hot food is never placed straight into the fridge.”
 
It is particularly important that meat is stored correctly to avoid the spread of bacteria and the possibility of food poisoning. Raw meat and poultry should be stored in clean sealed containers on the bottom shelf of the fridge, so they can't touch or drip onto other food. When you have cooked meat and you're not going to eat it straight away, it should be cooled as quickly as possible and then put in Fridges or Freezers.   
 
It is important to remember to keep cooked meat separate from raw meat. It is also important to make sure that all guidelines are correctly followed with other foodstuffs including those to be stored in the freezer, open tin cans or dried foods such as pasta, rice and cereal which should also be carefully stored.
 
Mr Hasan from the Kitchen Suppliers  added, “Businesses are not only required to comply with food storage regulations by law but they also have the viability of their business and safety of their customers to consider. Everyone employed in the food industry has to commit to high standards of food storage in order to create safe, hygienic working conditions which will ensure both the safety of customers and the reputation of the business.”