News

New protocol, food safety tools audit restaurant COVID-19 practices

New auditing tools from Steritech help restaurant operators ensure staff are following COVID-19-era best practices in food and employee safety (photo: iStock).

April 1, 2020

Steritech, a North Carolina-based food safety and pest control firm, a launched two new COVID-19 check services that can be operated virtually to ensure restaurants are keeping food, workers and customers safe amid the pandemic, according to a news release. The two new tools, the COVID-19 Protocol Check and Critical Food Safety Check, each come in virtual versions and cover the rapidly changing landscape of food safety during the pandemic.

The COVID-19 Protocol Check allows restaurants to reinforce coronavirus response protocols across their broader organizations, while identifying and addressing other risks in their locations. The tool acts as an efficient audit service to help operators spot high-risk, high-touch areas that may pose a heightened exposure risk, along with recommendations from Steritech on ways to clean and sanitize these areas.

"One of our goals as a company is to protect our clients' brands," said Doug Sutton, president of Steritech, in the release. "As partners to the restaurant industry, we are actively developing new services in real-time to help support them as their needs change on a daily basis."

The company has also launched its Critical Food Safety Check to coach operators on high-priority food safety standards, such as handwashing practices and hot and cold holding. The service is a scaled-back, modified version of Steritech's standard food safety assessment and provides an added level of support for employees as they handled the many new challenges and responsibilities the pandemic presents for restaurant workers.

"This is a fluid situation around the country right now, and we are trying to adapt to the needs of our clients," said Sutton. "With curfews and restrictions on dine-in restaurants, many of our clients are transitioning to take on additional responsibilities to provide for their communities. It's important to not lose focus on food safety during this time, while also maintaining the overall safety of employees and customers."

Both tools come in virtual versions which let operators navigate food safety and safe service without using an auditor to physically visit the location. Steritech's specialists work with operators through the mobile app and video allows specialists to evaluate line items and make recommendations.

See a list of other Pizza Marketplace stories, related to COVID-19 pandemic issues here