| News for the restaurant/foodservice industry | September 17, 2009 |
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| Food Safety (Part 2) |
Food safety remains a critical issue for everyone involved in the restaurant industry. This summer the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, which will allow the Food and Drug Administration to exert more control over food companies in an effort to reduce the likelihood of food contamination. The Senate is expected to follow suit this fall.
While the legislation will deal with the supply chain and production side of foodservice, restaurants also are dealing with food safety issues on the operator level. Restaurateurs and chefs must ensure best practices in the kitchen and also educate themselves about food allergies and intolerances, which have become an increasingly visible issue.
The first part of this two-part Special Report on food safety published Tuesday, Sept. 15, and focused on risk management, the government's role in food safety, and imports and exports. Part 2, below, focuses on food allergies, produce safety and the supply chain. |
| Food Allergies |  |  |
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- Restaurants must accommodate diners' special needs
Restaurants can't afford to not let customers make modifications such as changing a salad dressing, chef Denise Baron writes. If restaurants don't allow customers to make special requests, they risk isolating those with food allergies and special diets and ultimately could lose their business. Restaurants & Institutions (free registration)
(9/2009)
    
- Application helps customers avoid allergens
AllergyFree Passport and GlutenFree Passport's iPhone and iPod application helps diners with allergies pick out something safe to eat. ICanEat OnTheGo shows them what's free of their allergens at Arby's, Boston Market, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Dairy Queen, Domino's, Dunkin' Donuts, KFC, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Qdoba, Sonic, Subway, Taco Bell and Wendy's. QSRMagazine.com
(8/31)
- Fewer than 40% of adults can digest lactose
Worldwide, more than 60% of adults are unable to digest lactose, with the undigested sugars leading to cramping, flatulence, bloating and other symptoms. While some 90% of northern Europeans are able to digest lactose after childhood, only 5% of Asians, 25% of African and Caribbean peoples, and half of Mediterranean peoples are lactose tolerant. USA TODAY
(8/31)
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| | Save on high quality food safety training for everyone.
September is National Food Safety Education Month. But food safety has to work every single day of the year. That's why the National Restaurant Association's ServSafe® Program offers online training solutions that can be completed any day, anytime. It's always open. Experience e-Learning for yourself with a free demo and start training today! | |
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| Produce Safety | | |
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- Handling tomatoes can be a challenge for restaurants
Restaurants don't always follow FDA recommendations when handling tomatoes, the Journal of Food Protection reports. The National Restaurant Association aims to improve handling practices with its ServSafe program. "Staff training is of course key to positive results, and many jurisdictions require that foodservice workers are trained in food safety no matter what their tenure is," NRA's Annika Stensson said. The Packer
(8/10)
- Keep produce safe with clean water
As fresh produce has become more popular with consumers, the prevalence of food-borne illnesses also has increased. The biggest culprits have been lettuce and tomatoes. Using clean water and keeping sanitation records are key in cutting back on illnesses. The Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.)
(8/21)
 | ServSafe® food safety program offers solutions to fit managers' busy schedules. Online training can be completed anywhere there's an Internet connection allowing for more training and less disruption to busy days or shifts. Click here to learn how the National Restaurant Association's ServSafe Manager Online Course can save time and money. |
| Supply Chain | | |
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- Los Angeles food suppliers take safety seriously
Los Angeles' wholesale markets are concerned about food safety and make sure they adhere to food safety criteria. "Most of the industry has been working very diligently for the last couple of years -- especially after spinach [recall] -- to put in some type of a food safety and recall program," said a manager for Coosemans L.A. Inc. "It affects us all." The Packer
(8/19)
- Misconceptions about modern agriculture
Dominic Dyer, CEO of the U.K. Crop Protection Agency, sets out to correct some misconceptions about food production. He notes that modern agriculture does a good job of striking a balance between protecting the environment and producing enough food, and that there's little evidence that pesticides are harmful. BBC
(8/25)
| NRA Resources | | |
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Food Safety Thrives When You Focus on Five!
September is National Food Safety Education Month, and the National Restaurant Association encourages restaurant operators to participate. This annual campaign focuses on the importance of food safety education, while raising the awareness of the industry's commitment to food safety. This year's theme is "Food Safety Thrives When You Focus on Five." For more information, including free training materials, visit www.servsafe.com/nfsem.
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Educate your staff about food allergies
The National Restaurant Association offers free online resources and information about food allergens and how to train restaurant staff in ways to safely serve food-allergic guests. A training guide developed by the National Restaurant Association and the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, titled "Welcoming Guests with Food Allergies," is available for download.
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| | Recent National Restaurant Association SmartBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, September 16, 2009
- Tuesday, September 15, 2009
- Monday, September 14, 2009
- Friday, September 11, 2009
- Thursday, September 10, 2009
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Product announcements appearing in SmartBrief are paid advertisements and do not reflect actual National Restaurant Association endorsements. The news reported in SmartBrief does not necessarily reflect the official position of National Restaurant Association.
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