Safety is always critical when you are dealing with food. If you do not take the time to properly manage your inventory, you will have to deal with the consequences with later, which can be bad for business, or even worse, lead to serious legal issues. To avoid these issues, take small steps along the way to fully protect yourself.
When dealing with food safety, the first thing you should consider is how reliable is your food storage systems. If you are using older appliances, make sure that they are all in good working order. Refrigerators and freezers should be checked annually (if not more) to confirm they are in working order. If there are any issues, be sure to repair them quickly, and do not use them until they are in full working order.
When you receive inventory shipments, you can save yourself time and money by properly labeling the packages. There are all sorts of labels available, so you know the expiration date of the inventory, which food items should be used first and other labels that will make it easier on your staff. You can visit a store like Restaurant Discount Warehouse and buy these labels in bulk, so you will never run the risk of not having any around. While labels from RDW are valuable, they mean nothing if you do not educate your staff on how to properly use them. Be sure that everyone who handles food (and even those who don’t) understand how to properly apply, and read, the labels. This will help in avoiding any confusion, no matter who is handling the food.
Finally, keep your restaurant in good standing with local municipalities. Be sure to have a current certificate from the board of health and schedule annual visits. Food borne illnesses can be extremely dangerous, but by taking simple steps ahead of time, you can ensure that your customers are protected from negligence.
