The food industry is probably one of the most highly regulated, and rightly so. End users want to be certain that the food they eat in restaurants or buy in supermarkets, for example, is fit for consumption.
The Food Safety Act of 1990 details the legislation that food-related businesses across Britain must follow, and it is extensive. If you’re a food preparation business looking for some guidance, The Foods Standards Agency publishes its own guide.
Why colour-code your chopping boards?
At first glance, it might seem like a silly effort to make; why would anyone need to colour-code their chopping boards? However, the reason is as simple as it is important: to eliminate cross-contamination. It’s something that food safety regulations focus heavily on and a concept that many households are taking up now, too.
By having separate coloured boards for different products such as raw and cooked ones, those that have strong aromas, and those that many people are allergic to, such as nuts and milk, you can reduce your risk of making customers ill.
There are six recommended colours to use for various products. They are red for raw meat, blue for raw fish, yellow for cooked meats, white for breads and bakery items, green for fruit, and brown for vegetables. Most commercial kitchens take this coding a step further with the addition of knives and utensils with the same colour-coding to further prevent cross-contamination.
Other useful equipment
Using colour-coded chopping boards and knives is only going to help if they’re cleaned and sanitised correctly. A commercial dishwasher is a great way to ensure this happens because these appliances wash at a very high temperature, killing off any bacteria.
There are other pieces of equipment that can really help a food business maintain the correct levels of hygiene and manage the cold chain, which is so critical in ensuring the freshness of produce. This includes equipment such as commercial chest freezers and refrigerators, for example. Companies such as https://www.fridgefreezerdirect.co.uk/commercial-chest-freezers have been providing equipment like this to the food preparation industry for over a decade.
Although it might seem like an unnecessary expense to have six separate coloured chopping boards, particularly if you’re a small business and cashflow is tight, it could save you thousands in fines and loss of business in the long term.