COVID-19 is a fatal virus, spreading throughout the world. This disease spreads, directly and indirectly, leading to mild flu, gastrointestinal symptoms, and respiratory illness. Most of the cases have come across due to personal contact with an infected person. Spreading of droplets through cough and sneezing also adds to it.

Although, none of the cases is yet linked to the transmission through food. Transmission occurs when a person comes in contact with an infected surface and then touches their eyes, face, mouth, or ears.

Thus, working in a restaurant or food factory during this pandemic requires maintenance of personal hygiene. As personal hygiene is not an option, it is mandatory to prevent hazardous results.

Food Handlers and Personal Hygiene

Food handlers play a critical part in foodborne diseases and viral infections. Their hygiene must be well maintained to keep the customers safe. They must be aware of their health and cleanliness when handling food. During COVID, food handlers are supposed to follow these standard operating procedures strictly.

  • Frequent Hand Wash and usage of sanitizer
  • Use gloves
  • Wear mask
  • Stay away from someone showing respiratory illness
  • Maintain a distance of at least 2 meters
  • Keep the food premise clean and sanitized

Let us have a look at some measures:

1)  Genuine Hand Hygiene

Food handlers must strictly follow the protocols as their work is crucial. They must wash their hands properly for 40 to 60 seconds with soap, preferably with hot water. After washing, hands should be dried with an air dryer or purified towel and then sanitized. Additionally, employees shall wash their hands;

  • During their work
  • After coughing or sneezing
  • Before or after touching the face
  • Before handling ready-to-eat food
  • After handling garbage
  • After removal of protective equipment like gloves and face covers
  • After every break
  • After handling money or receipt

Furthermore, they should try not to smoke where they store the food or cook it. Food handlers should tie their hair if long, otherwise cover their hair. They should also keep their fingernails. They should wear gloves that are disposable and change them after a while. Adding to it, they should cover their wound if they have any on their hands.

2. Health And Working

There are a lot of chances that food handlers might contaminate the food. Therefore, all the employees should be fit and fine. They should ensure that they are not ill or not going through any of the following symptoms

  • Cough or sneezing
  • Diarrhoea
  • Shortness of breath
  • High temperature
  • Not being able to smell or taste anything

If any of the employees find any symptom, they should immediately inform the authority, take leave, and must not go to the food industry. They should not go until their symptoms are gone, and it has been 48 hours.

If the condition is serious, then they must consult a doctor. Otherwise, they must quarantine themselves at home. Food handlers should stay home even when they are going through some illness that can be transmitted through the food. They should not risk getting other people infected as well.

3. Hygienic Place For Food

The food handlers must keep the place purified and sanitized where they cook the food or store it. The cutlery material should be well maintained and sanitized to prevent the food from bacteria. Food handlers should wear gloves when cleaning the dishes or trays.

The factory or restaurant management must;

  • Organize a sanitizer go-through-gate.
  • Strict rules and protocol to check the temperature of employees every day, before starting the work.

4. Respiratory Hygiene

All the employees in the industry should make sure to wear face cover or masks to protect the food from germs if they cough or sneeze. If someone is suffering from the seasonal flu, then they must use a tissue.

They should dispose of the tissue in a closed bin immediately after use. And keep changing the masks every 6 hours or when it gets wet. Researchers also recommend wearing masks made up of cloth.

Conclusion

Many people suffered from COVID and survived due to good hygiene and immunity power. Additionally, many of those people lost the battle who did not maintain proper health and pretended to be careless. It is the sole responsibility of food handlers to be extremely cautious while dealing with food. They must not neglect any precaution that might lead to the spread of this disease.

Therefore, food handlers who decide about numerous people’s health must save them from diseases by handling the food carefully. They must maintain and follow proper safety protocols.