What should employees be trained in to support food safety?

Training employees in safe food handling and hygiene practices is essential for maintaining food safety in any food service establishment. This training provides staff with the knowledge and skills required to prevent foodborne illnesses, which can occur due to improper food handling.

Understanding how to correctly store, prepare, cook, and serve food helps ensure that harmful bacteria and pathogens are eliminated or controlled. Additionally, hygiene practices—such as proper handwashing techniques, use of gloves, and cleaning surfaces—are critical for preventing cross-contamination and protecting the health of customers.

While effective customer communication, time management skills, and cost management practices are important for overall business operations, they do not have a direct impact on the safety of the food served. Prioritizing safe food handling and hygiene practices equips employees with the tools needed to create a safe dining environment, which is the fundamental responsibility of food service workers.