If you run one of the 100,000 or so restaurants in the United States, you need to care about food safety and food manufacturing. Making sure that you're on top of staying safe in the food industry isn't just a matter of profits, it's a matter of public health and safety.
Of all the foods that can go bad, there's perhaps nothing that could go more wrong than a bad seafood, poultry, or meat shipment. Getting a bad meat shipment could easily put many people's lives in danger.
This article will walk you through a few reasons why you should refuse a meat shipment.
1. There's Damage
Examine all of the packaging in a particular shipment. Hire an assistant to do this with you if you need an extra pair of hands. Meat, poultry, and seafood need to be packaged very carefully if one wants them to stay good.
If there are is any sort of damage to the packaging, you should refuse the shipment. It's always better to stay safe than sorry when dealing with issues of public health.
You should also refuse a package if it's unfrozen when it should be frozen, if it's discolored in any way, or if it's leaking fluid. You should also make sure that labels are intact and that all containers are sealed.
If you're unsure, you might want to hire yourself a food safety consultant.
2. There's a Fowl Smell
Large quantities of meat don't have the greatest aroma in the world. However, if your shipment of meat is particularly foul-smelling, something is seriously wrong.
One piece of rancid meat can throw off a whole batch. Germs spread, and you want to make sure you're keeping all of your products as clean as possible.
3. The Temperature Is Off
Temperature is hyper-important when it comes to the world of meat. Bacteria grow rapidly in normal and warm conditions, which is why meat must be kept cold.
If your meat isn't kept at a maximum internal temperature of 41 degrees, you need to reject this meat. Even food kept out of the cold for as little as two hours can easily go bad.
4. The Texture Is Off
There are textural problems to certain bits of food that can be seriously indicative of problems. Make sure you stay away from any meat that feels sticky, slimy or dry. The meat shouldn't be too soft, and shouldn't retain the shape of your hand when you touch it.
Handle Your Meat Shipment
When you get a meat shipment, you need to make sure that your meat is up to par. If not, you could take a serious hit in reputation, quality, and conscience. It never feels good to put people in danger.
However, if you make sure your packages have no damage, your meat has no smell and the temperature and texture are correct, you're likely keeping everyone safe.
For more information about food safety in the restaurant industry, contact us today.