IS YOUR FOOD HANDLERS WEARING THE RIGHT APRON?

I like to dine in in cafes and restaurants and I might spend hours in there doing paper work. There is a new café I visited last 2 weeks. The café is air-conditioned with nice decoration, clean and they are variety of food listed in the menu. But what impressed me the most is their food handler team’s attire.  Every food handler is wearing clean working uniform and apron, and they are well-groomed.    

Sometimes we noticed that food handlers wear dark colour apron.  I was actually doubt if the colour is acceptable as we are acknowledged that the apron in food industry should be in bright colour.  There was once I received an interesting information from a food handling course trainer, that if the food business team has rigid reasons of wearing dark colour apron, they could actually seek approval from FSQ division of MOH for doing so. For instance, if food handlers’ nature of work is using white flour, the dark colour apron would enable them to notice the stain easily.  Yeah. It makes sense.

 

Can food handler be wearing apron with pocket?  There is no black and write stating the apron design.  The chef, and food handlers in famous café are using apron with pocket.  I searched from the internet that, the reason being having pocket in apron is simply for food handlers to put things, such as pen and notes.  However, I think it is not proper to wear apron with pocket as we need to avoid food handlers from putting hand phone and money notes in it, which causing the pocket dirty. And food handlers’ hand would be contaminated when they put in hands in the pocket.  In food processing factory especially, food handler is not allowed to wear aprons with pocket.  Well, if wearing apron with pocket is allowed in food premise, may be food handler should always make sure the apron is washed frequently. What do you say?

 

Food handlers must wear clean uniform and apron every day.  They should also take off the apron and keep it in a clean wardrobe before leaving the food premise or visiting toilets. Otherwise, the aprons would be contaminated from dust, bacteria (especially in toilets) and other contaminants. If the apron is dirty, it will contaminate the food when food handler is handling.

 

Wearing clean apron is not just protecting food in preparation from contamination but also would leave a good impression for customers and good image of the company.  So, the management should ensure the food handlers team to wear appropriate and clean apron while they are handling food.    

 

         

x