Importance of Personal and Environmental Hygiene in Kitchen

Importance/Relevance of Personal and Environmental Hygiene in Kitchen 

As a food handler, one must ensure that the food provided to the customers is free of all contaminants. Food handlers should remember that customer place great trust in them, and that carelessness on their part could make customers ill, or at times even lead to death.

Over normal body temperature is 37°C, which is good stage for germs to grow. This is probably the source of most cases of food poisoning. Personal hygiene should be important to everyone but especially to a good food holder, it is a paramount importance.

The food handler has a moral and legal responsibility of having good standards of personal hygiene. The bacteria on the human body are usually found on hands, ears, nose, month, throat, hair, and groin. One must mash hands after touching these areas and will reduce the cause of contamination risk.

The hands are the main medium through which bacteria are transferred to food.

So one must ensure washing hands :-

* When first entering the kitchen.

* When coming back from a break.

* After going to the toilet.

* After handling raw material or meat.

* After handling cooked meat or vegetarian food.

* After handling raw vegetables and other dirty food. 

* After handling garbage. 

*After handling cleaning equipment like mop, bucket, and cloth. 

* After touching one’s nose. 

* After touching one’s hairs. 

* After touching one’s fingers. 

* At regular intervals throughout the day.

The above list can be endless. Hands should be washed in a basin meant for hand wash only and never in sink . Always use hot water to wash hands and clean with anti germ soap. Hands should be cleaned all around and between the fingers also. Use nail brushes, while cleaning the hands and apply a soap to keep your hands free from germs.

No jewellery allowed in food areas, as they also have small dirt and germs. One can wear an important ring such as wedding ring or a chain around neck.