What Does “Requirements” Mean? 

A requirement is anything your commercial kitchen needs to open and stay open. If these requirements are not fulfilled, your kitchen won’t be able to stay open. 

This includes your business licences, health inspections, and safety checks. 

The good thing about these requirements is that they are things you should be doing anyway. They include best practices for handling food, cleaning surfaces, and taking care of your employees. 

Following them doesn’t just keep you open, they make your kitchen, and business, better. 

Public Health Inspection 

Making food that makes people sick is not only bad for your customers, it’s bad for your business as well.  

You’ll want to make sure your food is safe for consumption, and that you are handling it well. Public health inspections are requirements that keep your kitchen safe and healthy. 

Before your kitchen is inspected, you’ll have to ensure everything is up to par. Below are some important things public health inspectors will check for while inspecting your kitchen. 

Safe Food Storage: Hot and Cold Temperatures 

The temperature at which your food is stored is very important. If something isn’t cooked through or isn’t held at the correct temperature, it could be dangerous to consume. That’s because bacteria grow within the “bacterial danger zone”.  

Foods should never be held between 4°C (40°F) to 60°C (140°F). This is the danger zone where bacteria thrive. Instead, store your foods at the appropriate cold and hot temperatures and follow the proper precautions according to local guidelines. 

Safe Food Storage: Keep Contaminants Below Everything Else 

Raw chicken is known for carrying several harmful bacteria. Listeria, salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter can all be found in raw chicken.  

Keeping raw meat and other contaminants on the bottom shelf will stop spills from becoming a playground for bacteria. In general, items that can spill should be stored in lower places. There’s not much worse than leaks ruining a week’s worth of ingredients. 

This requirement doesn’t only apply to food. Chemicals should be stored under food as well. 

Hygiene 

Food and safety requirements include personal and proprietary hygiene. You have to take care of yourself, and your food prep surfaces. 

Basic requirements for maintaining a healthy kitchen include: 

  • Hair pulled back 

  • Stocked handwashing stations and cleaning supplies 

  • Close-toed shoes 

  • Restocking cleaning solutions frequently 

In short, you should be keeping your kitchen clean, your person tidy, and putting the means of cleaning close at hand. 

Get Your Employees Licensed 

According to most local regulations, anyone who serves, cooks, or handles food commercially is required to have a food handlers certification. This proves your employees know how to safely work with food. 

The best part is, it doesn’t take long. Within six hours your employees can be certified in food handling and ready to start serving customers. This training should be a requirement for anyone who handles food, not just cooks. 

Insurance 

Insurance can sometimes feel like a complicated mess. However, insurance comes in handy when accidents happen. 

Workman's compensation protects your employees should something happen to them while on the job. Restaurant insurance is also required to run a restaurant in Canada. This protects your equipment, building, and even lost income when something happens. 

Go Above and Beyond the Minimum Requirements 

Health and safety are central in everything your kitchen does. Go above and beyond the minimum requirements by cleaning thoroughly and frequently. Make a schedule to keep things on track. 

It’s a lot of work to keep a kitchen running smoothly and cleanly. Even just taking one thing off your plate can free you up to improve your kitchen and your business. 

Used cooking oil collection and recycling is one way to get something off your plate. With a right-fit system, your kitchen will be able to get rid of your used cooking oil while running smoothly.  

Used cooking oil systems and pickup are not required to operate a restaurant, but it’s better for you and the environment. 

Partner with Darling Ingredients Canada and get set up with a used cooking oil system and a pickup schedule that fits your needs. 

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