The Environmental Health Department of the Ministry of Health and Wellness has advised owners of food businesses that they should do a self-inspection of their food premises before the Environmental Health Officers make their official visits.
The department has provided the following checklist to ensure owners pass the official inspection:
- COVID-19 protocols in place
- All staff medically certified
- Regular cleaning schedule in place
- Pest control system in place
- Temperature monitoring log in place
- Thermometers properly calibrated
- Separate sinks for food preparation and wash-up purposes
- Separate hand-washing facilities, fully stocked
- First-in, First-out system in place
- Foods properly separated
- Adequate lighting and ventilation
- Healthy food handling procedures and practices strictly observed
- Linear process flow observed
- Employees properly dressed
This checklist will also help to reduce the COVID-19 risk to inspectors who must interact with the public during inspections in issuing food business licences.