Health code violations are rules and regulations created to ensure the safety of food, water, and facilities. These violations are designated as general, specific, or critical. General violations can be identified by unsafe conditions or practices that can lead to a lesser health risk. A health inspector must assess specific violations before they can be classified as critical. Here are a few of the most common health code violations, along with some tips on avoiding them. What are health code violations?
Contamination of Food.
The most common violators are unclean or improperly maintained equipment and employees who do not wash hands after using the bathroom. To avoid violations due to food contamination, you should always follow proper cleaning and sanitation techniques. Also, employees should be properly trained in following the sanitation process and proper use of equipment such as dishwashers machines.
Contamination of Water.
Many violations are due to improper water treatment or storage. After purchasing water, the water should be transported directly to the kitchen. If the water is not treated through a filter and then stored correctly, it may become contaminated. The same goes for food products such as produce and meat, which must be kept within reach of the cooling line to avoid contamination.
Contamination of Facilities.
Incorrect or incomplete equipment maintenance leads to many health code violations. Such factors cause many violations as improper or insufficient hand washing, poor ventilation and pest control, lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), or inadequate clothing.
Improper Food Handling.
The most common violators are improper temperature holding, improper storage, the wrong food-handling gloves, and improper date markings. To prevent violations due to improper food handling, you should educate employees on proper date marking techniques. Employees should also be trained to use the correct utensils for each food type while in storage.
Improper Food Storage.
Improper food storage is the most common health code violation in this category. This improper storage can result from food that is not cleaned or stored correctly based on food type. Improperly stored food can lead to contamination from pests and poor quality. To ensure proper food storage, you must use a temperature log, which tracks the amount of time that each type of food is kept at a specific temperature.
Chemical Use and Storage.
Chemical use and storage are closely monitored. The most common violations include the misuse of sanitizers, cleaners, de-greasers, and other chemicals. To avoid violations due to improper chemical use and storage, you must train employees in proper cleaning procedures and appropriate use of certain chemicals.
Time and Temperature Control.
Improper food handling is the most common violator in this category. This can be caused by incorrect reheating or cooling procedures, improper holding temperatures, and wrong time markers. To avoid violations due to time and temperature control, you must have a plan that outlines how to use each piece of equipment for each type of food. It would help if you also kept in mind different cooking times for different foods.
