
As the owner of a Hospitality Group, I’m always conscious of the fact that the pleasure of serving food comes with the responsibility of ensuring its safety and hygiene, two things that aren’t optional, but imperative for our well-being.
And whilst the advice of singing Happy Birthday twice to gauge the correct amount of time spent under the tap is great for mass adoption when it comes to food safety, we must ensure that we are a lot more thorough in our kitchens – let’s make it clear, touching soap or a sanitizer, no matter for how long, does not necessarily dictate hygiene.
Despite both local and international guidance ever-evolving, each year millions of people still suffer from illness caused by contaminated food, illnesses that are easily preventable with the right procedures in place. The biggest culprit of this is poor hand hygiene with contaminated hands running the risk of transferring harmful bacteria and viruses to food, so by ensuring that systems are in place and crucially are followed, is a powerful tool in preventing people from getting sick.
Not just a ‘once over’ before entering the kitchen kind of wash, but following the proper guidance throughout food service, for both those cooking and for those serving. With lots of potential places for contamination – including before and after handling raw food – using the restroom, or touching garbage, for example, it’s imperative that we as leaders set a culture of safety.
There really should be no excuses for noncompliance and with Dubai Municipality developing detailed standards to be adhered too, there is no shortage of material for training, applying and implanting such procedures.
As restaurant owners, we must invest in thorough training programs that educate our employees about the importance of hand hygiene. Providing the right training is the first step, but we must also ensure that our employees are always following the procedures, no matter how busy they are, and no matter how many orders they have. We must instill a culture where food hygiene comes first, and if that means customers waiting an extra minute for their food, then I’m sure both parties would agree that it’s a minute worth spending.
The use of gloves can also help, but it’s important that this doesn’t come as an alternative to hand washing, and that both must still be done to ensure safety. However, much like hands, we must also realise that gloves still collect harmful bacteria, and so frequently changing them, especially after handling raw food, is still a priority.
Whether it be something as simple as automated handwashing systems or using ultraviolet technology to kill bacteria and viruses, removing any remaining pathogens, the industry has made some great advances in finding ways to ensure safety. Indeed, many handwashing stations are now made with Antimicrobial Handwashing Fixtures, which are designed to inhibit the growth of bacteria and other pathogens and reduce the risk of contamination at the handwashing station.
With all restaurant hygiene ratings freely available to view on the Dubai Municipality app,
a restaurant's reputation – be it over failing hygiene protocols over a period of time, or indeed having a single outbreak – can tarnish its image irreparably. I think we all saw how the COVID-19 pandemic heightened awareness of hygiene practices across all industries and maintaining robust hand hygiene practices is not just about meeting regulatory requirements but also aligning with evolving customer expectations.
With that, also comes opportunity, and demonstrating the steadfast commitment to hand hygiene and food safety that we have at Gates Hospitality, can ensure that customers feel safe when they dine at our establishments, a factor that will turn them into loyal repeaters.
Our strong partnership with Diversey, who continue to develop cleaning technologies, is of the most importance and we very much see partnerships with organisations such as this as extensions of the DNA that help us define standard operating procedures, along with regular training sessions to educate our employees.
Hand hygiene is not a mere formality in food and beverage outlets; it is a non-negotiable necessity. As responsible restaurant owners, we all have to commit to upholding the highest standards of hand hygiene as an integral part of our dedication to providing a safe and enjoyable dining experience. Let us not forget, that clean hands lead to happy diners and happy diners are the lifeblood of our industry.
About the author:
Naim Maadad is the Chief Executive & Founder – Gates Hospitality.