Food vendors taking part in the final stretch of Crop Over are being urged to prioritise safe food handling to help ensure a healthy, enjoyable festival for all.
Health authorities stress the need for proper hand hygiene and other food safety measures to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses during the celebrations.
These include:
Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Drying hands with disposable tissue
Using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, if soap and water are unavailable
Having “running water” in a bucket with a tap to wash hands
Wearing coverings on heads and beards
Not wearing jewellery when serving food
Wearing light, loose clothing
Wearing clothing with sleeves
Storing food 18 inches off the ground in outdoor settings
Keeping food six inches from the floor in indoor settings
Making sure food products are bought from reputable sources
Covering food bins for waste/garbage
Discarding bags of waste appropriately for collection
Transporting food using appropriate transportation.
Ensuring food is protected from flies and other pests
Making sure that hot and cold foods are kept at the correct temperatures
Ensuring utensils are used to serve food safely
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