How Touchless Technology Helps Promote Food Safety in the Food Service Industry

Food safety is a significant concern for both commercial kitchen staff and consumers. Touchless technology centered on food safety promotes safe food handling. 

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 48 million people become ill each year due to foodborne illnesses. Most of these illnesses spread through cross-contamination that occurs during the preparation of these foods. 

Touchless technology is an effective way for commercial kitchens to reduce the risk of causing this cross-contamination. 

Key Takeaways:

• Foodborne pathogens can cause people to become extremely ill, and it is essential that kitchen staff know how to avoid cross-contamination

• Touchless technology, including touchless faucets, remote valves, and digital food management devices, keep your hands from touching surfaces and reduce cross-contamination

•  Incorporating touchless technology in the bathroom also promotes food safety by lowering the chance of soiling freshly washed hands 
• QR codes are replacing menus in the food service industry to cut down on the spread of germs and other harmful pathogens 

Source: National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases (DFWED)

The Pathogens that Cause the Most Health Concerns  

Food poisoning occurs when people do not handle food properly, store it correctly, or cross-contamination happens by touching a dirty surface before touching the food they are preparing. 

There are more than 250 foodborne diseases. Most of these diseases are infections caused by various bacteria, parasites, and viruses. 

According to the CDC, the pathogens that cause the most illnesses, hospitalizations, and even deaths each year are:

• Norovirus
• Salmonella
• Clostridium perfringens
• Campylobacter spp.
• Staphylococcus aureus

Top 3 Touchless Technologies That Promote Food Safety

Up-to-date technology is necessary to mitigate the risk associated with food safety. Significant advancements happen each year to help here in the United States. Yet, they are also in developing countries, from where much of our imported food comes. 

As these advancements take place in these developing countries, incorporating these technologies will become more prevalent in commercial kitchens worldwide. Yet, what can you do in your commercial kitchen today to improve food safety?

Touchless technology is the answer. Here are the top three touchless technologies available now that you can install in your kitchen: 

1. Touchless Faucets  

When employees touch raw meat, they must wash their hands before touching other surfaces. Touchless faucets allow them to wash their hands without contaminating the handles of the sinks. 

These faucets shut off automatically or with the wave of your hand over the sensor. Hand-free fixtures have a sensor (usually on the side of the faucet) that controls the water flow.

Another great feature of these fixtures is that they save on water consumption. You can program how much water flows from the faucet with the automatic setting. 

Many of these faucets are programable from your smart device and make monitoring water usage easy as well. Not only do they improve food safety practices, but you can also save money on utility costs. 

2. Remote Spouts and Valves  

 Remote spouts are manual faucets that you install (or have installed) and connect to a remote valve on the floor under the sink. They allow you and your staff to operate the water flow with your foot so that you do not have to handle the faucets on the sinks. 

You can modify these faucets to meet your needs. That way, whether you are managing a restaurant kitchen or one in a school or healthcare facility, you can make certain the faucet configuration suits those who will be using it most. 

This faucet is another excellent choice when it comes to water conservation. You control the water flow, so you get only the amount of water you need for the task at hand. 

Since you will not have to wave your hand over a sensor to shut the water off, you can have a handful and not drop a single item into the sink.

3. Digital Food Management

Building management systems (BMS) are one way commercial kitchens can mitigate risks associated with food safety. These systems manage refrigeration unit settings, temperature, access control, and lighting.

Yet, there are other touchless technologies that you can incorporate in your commercial kitchen that allow you to monitor the food, its quality, and whether cooks prepared the food correctly. These digital food-management devices automate food safety measures.

These digital assistants include food temperature thermometers, sensors, and self-contained wireless devices that provide you with the data you need to guarantee your food remains fresh and well kept. Automating the monitoring of your stock, supplies, and expiration dates will help you promote food safety more effectively. 

With these technologies, your staff can:

• Attach compliance tasks
• Improve communications between shifts
• Visualize food and safety data
• Automate regulation checks 

Digital food management, along with the other technologies can only do so much when it comes to food safety. It is essential that you and your staff also consider these five essential elements of proper food safety and handling.

Image Source:  https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/safe-food-handling/ 

Don’t Neglect Touchless Technology for Bathroom Facilities

The kitchen is not the only place that fosters the spread of cross-contaminations. The bathroom is another place that can cause these risks. 

For that reason, you should consider installing touchless technology in the bathrooms your kitchen staff will be using while they work. These technologies include:

• Touchless or metering faucets
• Handsfree toilets
• Automatic soap dispensers
• Handsfree towel dispensers

Touchless Technology Outside of the Kitchen that Promotes Food Safety

The food service industry has discovered that QR codes are a better alternative to paper or printed menus that may contribute to the spread of harmful pathogens. 

By limiting contact with contaminated items, servers can promote food safety by lowering the chances of cross-contamination with this innovative touchless technology.

Reduce the Risks of Cross-Contamination with Chicago Faucets

Food safety is your responsibility. Reduce the risks and promote proper food handling by installing touchless technology in your commercial kitchen.

At Chicago Faucets, we have touchless technology that can help you promote food safety and healthy hygiene practices. Not only do our products promote safer food handling practices, but we also focus on water conservation and sustainability.

We care about our planet and the people living in it, and we know that you do too. We have been designing products for more than 120 years with this in mind. That is why we provide you the touchless technology for food safety. 

For more information on how to keep your customers safe by incorporating touchless technology in your commercial kitchen, contact us here. We have hands-free products that promote food safety.