New cases of COVID-19 have been decreasing in Texas since about mid-January 2021. As of February 2021, restaurants can fill their dining rooms up to 75% of capacity and bars up to 50% capacity. But mixed with the good news are continuing challenges. The restrictions on food service businesses are set to tighten automatically anytime […]
Stand-Up Training: Servers and Food Contamination
Empower Employees Through Food Safety Training Preventing food contamination isn’t just a concern during its preparation. It can also be contaminated when it’s being served to the customer. Use this training to teach servers how they can help keep food safe while it’s being carried to the customer. Learning Objectives You may choose to read […]
February Cartoon: Cooking Meat to Safe Temperatures
Cooking food at home can be a great way to save money and control what you eat. However, this means you are now in charge of making sure bacteria and viruses don’t spread on the food you will soon be eating. If you don’t cook food at the correct temperature, you can become seriously ill. […]
In Memory of Kirk Mecham
The StateFoodSafety team was saddened to learn of Kirk Mecham’s passing on January 9, 2021. For nearly a decade, Kirk lent his voice talent to StateFoodSafety courses. His deep baritone voice brought a wonderful dynamic to our training. He is irreplaceable as a human being and a gifted performer. We will truly miss him. You […]
How to Prepare Seafood Safely in California
Between 2014 and 2018, investigators traced around 48 outbreaks of foodborne illness in California back to seafood. Statistically, that’s not bad. California had 607 total foodborne illness outbreaks in 2014–2018, meaning only about 8 percent of all outbreaks were tied to seafood. But there’s a story behind every number. Those 48 outbreaks caused 619 people to […]
Stand-Up Training: Serving Customers with Dietary Restrictions
Empower Employees Through Food Safety Training Food allergies are not the only dietary restriction you will be asked to accommodate in your establishment. Most Americans have participated in some form of restricted diet in their lifetime. Not all restricted diets have weight loss in mind, either. They can be for religious, medical, or even ethical […]
January Cartoon: How to Keep Ready-to-Eat Food Safe
In 2013 and 2014, the FDA collected data on behaviors in restaurants that often lead to food safety problems. Investigators found that about 40% of all fast-food restaurants were not cleaning and sanitizing properly. And just over 60% of full-service restaurants also had problems with cleaning and sanitizing. That means about half of all restaurants that […]
Stand-Up Training: Emergency Preparedness for Food Service
Empower Employees Through Food Safety Training Sometimes you can plan ahead for an emergency. Other times, you and your employees will have to respond to a spontaneous event. In both cases, it’s important to have an emergency plan in place so your employees know exactly what to do to keep themselves and your customers safe. […]
How to Handle Pork Safely
Pork was first introduced to the United States in the early 16th century, when the explorer Hernando de Soto brought hogs to Florida. It gained an important place in the United States diet in the 1800s, when manufacturers began salting pork to help it last longer. At that time, salt pork became the country’s staple […]
Server Tip: How to Slow Alcohol Service
Drinking alcohol can be a fun way to celebrate, connect with friends, and relieve stress. When that alcohol buzz kicks in, though, it can be hard to decide when enough is enough. Intoxication tends to impair a person’s judgment. That poor judgment can lead to disaster, especially when someone drives away. That’s where you come […]