If you find a fridge temperature over 8°C, you need to take immediate action:
Common misunderstanding: As long as the fridge door remains closed, the temperature inside will quickly return to safe levels after a brief rise above 8°C.
While keeping the fridge door closed can help maintain the internal temperature, it does not guarantee a quick return to safe levels if the temperature has risen above 8°C. Prolonged exposure to higher temperatures can still occur, risking food safety. Always check actual food temperatures and follow protocols to ensure safety.
Common misunderstanding: If the fridge temperature rises above 8°C, it is safe to consume the food as long as it looks and smells fine.
Visual and olfactory checks are not reliable methods for determining food safety. Harmful bacteria can multiply rapidly at temperatures above 8°C, even if the food appears normal. It's crucial to adhere to temperature guidelines and discard any food that has been at unsafe temperatures for over 4 hours.
If you're unsure how long the fridge has been faulty (for example, if it broke down overnight), you should discard all the food and record it as waste. It's better to be safe than risk serving potentially dangerous food. Make sure to document this in Pilla with detailed comments about why the food was discarded.
Common misunderstanding: If the fridge was only slightly warm when checked, the food inside is likely still safe to use.
The warmth of the fridge at the time of discovery does not accurately reflect how long the food may have been exposed to unsafe temperatures. Without knowing the exact duration of the breakdown, it's safer to discard the food to prevent food-borne illnesses.
Common misunderstanding: As long as the fridge is fixed quickly, the food inside can be salvaged and safely consumed.
Repairing the fridge does not reverse the effects of prolonged exposure to unsafe temperatures. Once food has been exposed to temperatures above the safe threshold for an unknown period, it must be discarded, regardless of subsequent repairs.
Fresh fish requires special handling - it must be stored below 3°C at all times. If you find fresh fish stored above 3°C in a broken fridge, it must be discarded immediately, regardless of how long it's been at that temperature. This is stricter than the rules for other foods because fresh fish is particularly sensitive to temperature changes.
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Fridge temperatures should be checked and recorded twice per day or once per shift. Regular checking helps identify any issues early, preventing potential food safety problems.
Food that has been above 8°C must be discarded after 4 hours. This rule is strictly applicable only once and cannot be applied multiple times for periods under 4 hours each.
Raw meat should always be stored on the lowest shelf of the fridge to prevent drips from contaminating other foods.
Yes, it is necessary to record all fridge temperatures, even when they are within the normal range.
Yes, you can use cling film to cover food in the display fridge as long as it is food-grade wrapping. Ensure that your display fridge also has proper sneeze guards or screening to protect the food.
Batch-cooked food should be consumed within three days, including the day it was prepared. For instance, if the food is cooked on Tuesday, it should be used by the end of Thursday.
Ideally, fresh fish should be stored in a separate fridge set at a temperature below 3°C to meet its specific cooling requirements.
Fridge seals should be inspected weekly to check their condition and cleanliness. This regular maintenance helps keep the fridge working efficiently.
If the duration of the fridge outage overnight is unknown and you cannot verify that the food temperature has remained below 8°C using a probe thermometer, it is safer to discard all the food and record it as waste. However, if the temperature checks confirm the food is below 8°C, you can safely transfer it to another working fridge. This approach prevents unnecessary waste while ensuring compliance with food safety standards.
When food is stored in a fridge and the temperature is between 6-8°C, it should be checked hourly to ensure it doesn't exceed 8°C.
No, you should not put hot food directly into the fridge. Doing so can raise the temperature inside the fridge, potentially affecting other stored foods and causing temperature fluctuations.
Ensure there is adequate space around all sides of items in your fridge, particularly at the back and sides of the unit, to allow cold air to flow freely.
If you don't have access to an alternative refrigeration unit during a breakdown, you must use the affected food within 4 hours if the temperature rises above 8°C.
If the fridge seal is damaged, it's important to address the issue immediately as it can lead to warm air entering the fridge and cause temperature fluctuations.