FOUR REASONS WHY MOBILE SINK UNITS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR FOOD SERVICES & CATERING

TEALwash SA offers a range of portable hand wash units ideal for mobile food vendors and catering-related businesses, to help maintain the highest levels of hygiene when preparing food. The following article explains the four main reasons why mobile sinks should be an essential purchase for mobile food or fixed kiosk-based suppliers:

1. IT IS A REQUIREMENT BY LAW

According to the SA Government Department of Health regulations, the following MUST be present at any given food premises:

“hand-washing facilities which shall be provided with cold and/or hot water for the washing of hands by workers on the food premises and by persons to whom food is served for consumption on the food premises, together with a supply of soap (or other cleaning agents) and clean disposable hand-drying material or other hand-cleaning facilities or hand-drying equipment for the cleansing and drying of hands by such workers and persons”

According to legislation, a “food premises” includes: a building, structure, stall or other similar structure, caravan, vehicle, stand or place used for or in connection with the handling of food

As laid out in Regulations Governing General Hygiene Requirements For Food Premises and the Transport of Food; Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (act 54 of 1972)

2. YOU ARE KEEPING FOOD POISONING AT BAY

Every year, millions of people suffer from food poisoning caused by unseen microbes, therefore where high risk foods such as raw meat are in use, washing hands in hot running water with soap is the only solution.

Safeguarding customers against bacteria is a top priority. Due to the high risk of cross-contamination through the handling of different produce, customers are left in a vulnerable situation as germs such as E.Coli have sufficient opportunities to spread throughout the day.

3. PORTABLE HAND WASH UNITS PREVENT THE SPREAD OF INFECTIONS

The only way to prevent the spread of dangerous infections such as norovirus is through washing your hands with soap under hot running water – alcohol gels are not intensive enough. Ensuring hand washing facilities are readily available is also essential for maintaining staff levels as viruses can swiftly take hold and lead to an over-stretching of resources.

4. BOOST YOUR FOOD HYGIENE STANDARDS, QUALITY AND REPUTATION

Like it or not, mobile catering in particular has a poor reputation when it comes to hygiene. By following the best practice guidelines especially in terms of hand hygiene street food units can help change the face of this industry.

However, it is not just about operating within the law. By providing portable hand wash units to staff and where necessary to customers, it shows that you care about the standard of the food you serve and customer welfare – which is essential when customer opinions can so easily ruin a business’ reputation.

Having accessibility to good hand wash facilities will help your food hygiene rating and provide the gold standard in hand hygiene care for both staff and customers.

For further information on the TEAL range of mobile units, visit our website at www.tealwash.co.za  or email info@tealwash.co.za