Meeting Cutting Board Compliance in the Age of Coronavirus
In the age of Coronavirus, our world has been turned upside down. Hundreds of businesses have gone under or are struggling to stay open. Many of these businesses include restaurants, bakeries, bars, delis and supermarkets.
However, when it comes to cutting board compliance and Coronavirus, there is no uncertainty – having clean prep surfaces is vital. It is more important now than ever to follow cutting board regulations and ensure germs aren’t being spread. If you have a cutting board, whether at a small bakery or a multi-chain restaurant, meet compliance by following these three rules.
Replace Cutting Boards
The first step to ensuring safety and cleanliness with cutting boards is replacing any that need so. As soon as a cutting board becomes difficult to clean or has deep grooves, warps or cracks should be replaced.
These deep grooves, warps and cracks can house bacteria and cause food to become contaminated. Avoid all this and meet health codes by replacing cutting boards frequently.
Keep Cutting Boards Clean
Along with replacing old cutting boards, constantly clean dirty ones. Make sure you wash boards after every use, even if it is something as simple as chopping onions.
Before cleaning the board, remove all food particles, especially any raw meat.
If you have plastic cutting boards, stick them in the dishwasher. Otherwise, you need to hand wash your wood or bamboo cutting board with warm, soapy water.
To disinfect the board, use vinegar. For odors, scrub the board with a lemon half and some salt. To remove stains, sprinkle some baking soda on the board and scrub with a damp cloth.
Once you wash the board, make sure it is completely dry before storing it away.
Avoid Cross-Contamination
As mentioned before, ensuring bacteria does not remain inside cutting boards is absolutely vital. Cross-contamination of foods (raw meats with vegetables and fruits) is also extremely important. One way to avoid this is by using color-coded cutting boards.
Check out our previous blog on color-coded cutting boards and which to use.
Cutting Board Werks and Coronavirus
Whether you are replacing an old board or buying a brand new one, order your customized cutting board with Cutting Board Werks today. We sell HDPE and Richlite cutting boards that will meet your specific standards. All of our boards are certified by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.