What is the first step in ensuring food safety at a food establishment?

Implementing proper employee hygiene practices is crucial as the first step in ensuring food safety at a food establishment because employees are often the primary point of contact with food. Good hygiene practices, such as regular handwashing, wearing clean uniforms, and using gloves when handling ready-to-eat foods, greatly reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. If employees do not maintain proper hygiene, harmful bacteria can easily be transferred from their hands to food, surfaces, or equipment, leading to contamination.

While cooking food to appropriate temperatures, regularly cleaning kitchen surfaces, and checking food expiration dates are all important components of food safety, they all depend on having a foundation of good employee hygiene practices. Without proper hygiene, even the best cooking temperatures and clean surfaces can still lead to unsafe food. Therefore, establishing strong hygiene protocols is a vital first step in creating a safe food handling environment.