OC Environmental Health Department stresses food safety

Published 12:07 pm Friday, September 4, 2020

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Orange County Environmental Health Department is reminding citizens to practice food safety during the recovery of Hurricane Laura and the continued COVID-19 pandemic. Food Safety should be a top priority for all retail food service establishments as well as local churches and non-profit groups that are preparing meals for all that have been affected.

Food Safety Tips from the Health Inspector:

– Wash your hands often and every time you:

  1. Go to the restroom
  2. Touch your face, hair or phone
  3. Take out the trash
  4. Put on or take off your gloves
  5. Eat, drink or use tobacco

– Hot foods should be held at 135 degree or higher

– Cold foods should be held at 41 degrees or below

– Reheat food to 165 degrees before serving

– Check food temperatures with a calibrated thermometer often

– Never keep food over seven (7) days once it has been thawed or opened

– Food preparation surfaces, cooking equipment and utensils must be cleaned with soapy water and sanitized with a solution of ¼ cup chlorine bleach per gallon of water

– Keep raw food separate from cooked foods

– Always wear clean gloves when working with cooked or raw foods

We have several resources on the Orange County Environmental Health and Code Compliance website at:

https://www.co.orange.tx.us/departments/EnviromentalHealthCodeCompliance/FoodService.

Remember when in doubt throw it out and keep hands clean!!!!!!!!!!

Orange County Environmental Health has a Facebook page, please like us for updates and information:

https://www.facebook.com/orangecohealth/