Healthy meal preparation starts at the grocery store, and it’s up to you to provide families with fresh, safe food products. There are plenty of protocols you can implement around the store to ensure that the food on the shelves is safe for consumption. Here are a few tips to consider.
- All employees who handle meat, fish or prepared dishes should wear gloves. These food counters should be encased in glass or protected by sneeze guards to avoid contamination.
- All fridges and freezers should be regularly checked to ensure that the proper temperatures are maintained.
- Food items should be inspected. Food that’s a few days old should be moved to the front or top of shelves and displays, while any expired items should be thrown away.
- Any food items with damaged packaging should be thrown away.
- Train your staff to bag meat, poultry and seafood separately to prevent contamination.
- As part of the store cleaning routine, wipe down freezer handles and other commonly touched surfaces to avoid the spread of illness. On that note, provide sanitizing wipes by the carts to give customers the option to clean their cart handles.
- When offering samples, ensure that food items are stored at the proper temperature and throw away all leftovers.
- Trash should be taken out promptly.
When you take care to provide a clean store with safe food products, the whole community can grow and thrive. Not to mention, customers will likely share their positive experiences with friends and family, which can lead to a boost in business.
Learn more about protecting your business. Call Driscoll & Driscoll Insurance Agency for more information on the grocery store insurance policies we offer.