Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
A foodservice manager at a local agency successfully completed ServSafe Food Safety Training class through Iowa State Univeristy Extension in Woodbury County . She then requested a less-intense food safety training for the kitchen staff of the facility. More problems were discovered as the training progressed.

Response:
I went to the facility to provide a two-hour Safe Food training for 8 staff members. During the training, the staff learned about the importance of taking food temperatures, how to use a thermometer, how to calibrate a thermometer, keeping food out of the temperature danger zone, and many other food safety concepts. At the end of the training, staff specifically asked about a cooking process that they use in which food is potentially in the temperature danger zone for too long... more than 4 hours.

Since we were in the facility, I suggested we go into the kitchen and take a temperature of the food during this cooking process. Staff began ‘rummaging' for a thermometer, asking each other where they were, guessing where they had last seen it, etc. It became very obvious that food temperatures were not being taken at this facility. Finally, a thermometer was found and a temperature of the meat was taken. We discussed a better way to handle the cooking process and also again reviewed the importance of taking food temperatures.

Impact:
In a follow-up with the facility staff two months later about whether they were using any of the concepts taught in the class, I found out they are now using food thermometers regularly, have a place to keep them that everyone knows about, keep the thermometers clean, and have also altered the cooking process to ensure the safety of their food. They are not calibrating thermometers and are not actually recording the food temperatures on any type of log or record, so they have not applied everything that was recommended, but they have come a long way to help ensure their clients get safe food.

Contact:
Renee Sweers
Woodbury County Extension
4301 Sergeant Rd #213
Sioux City, IA 51106
rsweers@iastate.edu