As Environmental Health Specialists by trade, the health inspectors at TexasPHS are on the front lines as restaurants slowly reopen across Texas. As of May 18, 2020, the state of Texas officially entered Phase Two of reopening, meaning that restaurants may expand their occupancy to 50% beginning on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. Bars, lounges, nightclubs, wine tasting rooms, and craft breweries may also open up on May 22, 2020 at a 25% occupancy limit.
There are some disturbing trends taking place, though, and for some reason, nobody is discussing or debating these common occurrences. Here are the TOP 3 DISTURBING FOOD SAFETY TRENDS that consumers need to be aware of …
1.) Why aren’t food workers washing their hands after touching their face masks?
Good question. The pandemic has forced restaurants and other food establishments to dramatically alter their food safety and sanitation protocols to make consumers feel safe. Unfortunately, poor face mask hygiene is a common occurrence that has gone under reported by health inspectors and unnoticed by food workers and management alike. Wearing a face mask produces a false sense of security, just as glove-use does. The inspectors at TexasPHS have witnessed many food workers unknowingly adjusting their face masks and then immediately returning to food preparation without removing their gloves and properly washing their hands.
This is a CRITICAL violation.
This act is considered a change of task that requires a food worker to stop and take appropriate action to properly wash their hands. Food workers and management staff have simply not been adequately trained on the proper health protocols and pitfalls associated with face masks.
Face masks in food establishments may present a positive and safe image to the public, but it comes with a whole new set of challenges that are not even being discussed in the industry.
For more info: Guidance from the Texas Department of State Health Services on minimum health protocols during Covid-19.
2.) Why aren’t restaurants and other food establishments required to report positive Covid-19 cases?
TexasPHS inspectors have been fielding a lot of inquiries from food establishments wanting to know the proper protocols when it comes to employees testing positive for Covid-19.
Alert: THERE AREN’T ANY!
There is currently no law or regulation requiring food establishments like grocery stores, restaurants, food halls, Amazon Fresh fulfillment centers, catering companies, and bars and lounges to make public when employees test positive for Covid-19. Some food establishments are being transparent and are “doing the right thing.” Others, not so much.
TexasPHS believes that food establishments should be required to make public this information so consumers can make their own decisions on where they want to shop, dine, play, and drink.
For more info: Guidance from the CDC on what food production companies should do when employees test positive for coronavirus.
3.) How is it even possible that restaurants are still dirty?
Many food establishments have been forced to lay off or furlough food workers during the ongoing pandemic. This means that fewer employees are available to manage the workload.
Food safety and sanitation are always the first tasks to go by the wayside when this happens. At a time when food establishments should be dedicating more resources to cleaning and sanitizing, in many cases, the opposite is actually occurring. TexasPHS has actually logged an increase in food contact surfaces being unclean to sight and touch.
Food establishments need to bring back or hire MORE employees to ensure a safe and sanitary environment — not FEWER. PERIOD.
TEXAS PUBLIC HEALTH SOLUTIONS 