A small bit of silver lining from the COVID-19 pandemic is a general improvement in food safety. Now that we’re finally able to enjoy dining out again – in most locations – we can give thanks for returning to life as normal, plus a new normal: improved food hygiene.
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Steps to Food Safety
Here are some of the improvements that are here to stay post-pandemic.
Cleaner Food Preparation
Many restaurants are keeping their heightened sanitary procedures even though they will no longer be mandated. Common procedures include having kitchen staff wear masks while on the job and implementing screening procedures so workers who are ill do not come into the kitchen. Less common are air filtration systems, like local pizza restaurant Ambler Pizza installed, which sanitizes the air and reduces the spread of pathogens.
Reducing Contact & Increasing Convenience
Cash payments were already on their way out before 2020, but the pandemic has expedited our move away from paper and coins and toward digital alternatives. Tap to pay, payment via phones, and possibly even cryptocurrency payments will continue to grow. While some may prefer cash, going digital is generally more secure, easier, faster, and safer. For the majority who prefer the convenience of digital, we can be thankful that our move away from cash has been expedited.
Better Ingredients
Concerns of pathogens spreading on surfaces have also created a higher level of scrutiny around ingredients like produce throughout the supply chain. Produce testing companies like WQSCert have seen an increase in demand for quality control procedures since the pandemic started. While there has been a general trend of companies improving the quality and ethics of the products they source, a renewed care for quality and safety of ingredients has moved this along faster. As diners, we can enjoy having higher quality and safer ingredients going into our meals.
More Appreciation
Many of us realized how good we had it before we were forced to quarantine and most of our modern conveniences were taken away. It shouldn’t take a global pandemic to make us realize how nice it is to have access to so many different foods so easily. However, for many, this was the case. Now that things are opening back up again, let’s try not to forget how lucky we are to be able to enjoy fresh, professionally prepared meals at restaurants with our friends and family. And let’s remember to do it safely so we reduce the chance of spreading pathogens.
Food tastes better and is more enjoyable when it’s safe, the ingredients are high quality, and we take the time to appreciate it. While we don’t want to relive the last few years, we can choose to be thankful for the good things that have come about from it, and of course, take the lessons learned so we reduce the chance of another global pandemic.
