Serving food

If you are:

  • serving more than tea, coffee or confectionery items such as biscuits
  • asking someone else to do the catering

then you, or your caterer, need to read the following information carefully.

Before you start

Visit the venue and think about the facilities that are available. Consider, at least, the following points:

  • size of kitchen for what you need
  • whether there is enough space to separate raw and cooked, ready to eat foods
  • whether there are enough chopping boards to separate raw and cooked, ready to eat foods
  • adequate cooking facilities
  • enough fridge space
  • enough hot water to keep kitchen equipment and utensils clean and disinfected
  • whether you need to provide washing up liquid, sanitiser or disinfectant
  • whether you will have to provide any extra equipment
  • if you will be working with any other people, whether they are suitably trained or aware of basic food hygiene principles
  • if transporting any food, whether you have enough clean containers and can do the journey quickly

The kitchen

Make sure the kitchen, equipment and utensils are clean and disinfected.

Check the equipment is working properly - fridges should be switched on in good time to reach the recommended temperature of 4°C.

Food preparation

You should:

  • plan properly - avoid laying out perishable foods at room temperature too far in advance
  • transport food quickly and hygienically in clean containers
  • keep perishable foods at safe temperatures, including during transport
  • keep cold foods between 1°C and 4°C and hot foods at 63°C or above
  • if foods have to be cooked this must be done as quickly as possible
  • always cook foods thoroughly and re-heat until piping hot
  • keep raw foods, especially meats and unwashed salad items, completely separate from ready to eat foods
  • clean up as you go - use disposable cloths and wipe up spillages immediately
  • cover foods, whenever possible

Personal hygiene

You should:

  • wear clean clothes and aprons or over clothing
  • wash hands regularly, especially after handling raw foods and using the toilet
  • avoid directly handling or touching foods - use tongs or utensils wherever possible
  • cover cuts and sores with a waterproof dressing
  • never handle food if suffering from a stomach upset or skin infection
  • tie long hair back

Food hygiene training in Bracknell Forest

Food handlers responsible for providing food to members of the public should be adequately trained for the job that they carry out. This should include at least an understanding of those matters listed here.

As a guide, those food handlers who prepare open, high-risk foods should have formal training. This takes the form of a food hygiene course which is available at foundation level, level 2 and level 3. The minimum expectation for most food handlers is level 2.

Remember - food poisoning is preventable. For good food hygiene remember to look after the 4 Cs:

  • cleaning
  • chilling
  • cooking
  • cross-contamination