Food Safety During COVID-19
Perennia’s Quality and Food Safety team have received inquiries from local food production operations looking for reassurance that they are doing everything they can to protect their employees and customers. If you are following the provincial and federal guidelines but want to do more here are a few additional best practices you can implement over the coming weeks:
- Train your team – Make sure they can demonstrate how to wash their hands properly and can follow through on the newly implemented practices you have in place;
- Gloves are fine but not a substitute for dirty hands – Wash and/or sanitize gloves as per hygiene policy;
- Contact your chemical provider to ensure you are using sanitation chemicals properly and allowing for the proper contact time to disinfect surfaces that may be contaminated with COVID-19;
- If you are working from home, update your Crisis Management Plan with the steps you are taking for this pandemic so you are prepared for the next one.
To date, there have been no reports of COVID-19 transmission through food. However, please remember to do everything that you can and follow the practices and guidelines that the province has outlined:
Contact Public Health or CFIA if you have food safety concerns related to an outbreak at your facility or in the community. Visit CFIA’s website for industry and consumer updates and notices regarding COVID-19.
PERENNIA RESOURCES
GENERAL RESOURCES
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- CanadaGAP
- Canadian Horticultural Council
- Canadian Produce Marketing Association
- Farm Safety Nova Scotia
- Nova Scotia Fisheries Sector Council Covid19 Information Resources
- Public Health Agency of Canada
- FDA Food Safety and COVID-19
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- North Carolina State University COVID-19 Resources
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- WHO
- BRCGS – Responding to COVID-19
- SQFI – COVID-19 Resources
- FMI The Food Industry Association Coronavirus Resources
- International Association for Food Protection
COVID-19 WEBINARS
- Food Safety Tech – COVID-19 in the Food Industry: Protecting Your Employees and Consumers
- IFSQN – The Influence of COVID-19 on the Food Industry
- IFSQN – The Influence of COVID-19 on the Food Industry – An Update and Q&A
- SAI Global – Crisis Management: Is your Food Processing or Manufacturing Business Prepared for Disruption
- Solink Webinar – Protect your Business During the COVID-19 Pandemic