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Hygiene Management in Restaurants

Restaurant and Food Service · 外食業 · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

Three Principles of Food Poisoning Prevention and Major Bacteria

Over 90% of food poisoning cases are caused by bacteria or viruses. The three principles of prevention are 'Do not attach (handwashing, separating tools)', 'Do not multiply (low-temperature storage)', and 'Destroy (thorough core heating and sanitization)'.

Bacteria multiply inside food when the three conditions of 'temperature, moisture, and nutrients' are present, whereas viruses do not multiply in food but replicate inside the human intestine. Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (such as O157), found in beef and raw vegetables, is killed by heating the core to 75°C or higher for at least 1 minute.

Campylobacter in chicken and Salmonella in chicken and eggs are also prevented by thorough cooking, and cracked eggs should be cooked immediately. Vibrio parahaemolyticus on seafood thrives in salt, so seafood must be washed thoroughly with potable fresh water (tap water) before preparation.

Staphylococcus aureus, abundant in infected hand wounds and cuts, produces a heat-stable toxin in food that is not destroyed by cooking. Workers with hand cuts must wear a bandage covered by disposable gloves and never touch food directly.

Key points


  • The three principles of food poisoning prevention are 'Do not attach, Do not multiply, and Destroy'; bacteria grow with temperature, moisture, and nutrients.

  • Prevent O157, Campylobacter, and Salmonella by heating the core to 75°C for at least 1 minute, and wash seafood with fresh water against Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

  • Because Staphylococcus aureus toxin is heat-stable, staff with hand cuts must wear disposable gloves.
WordMeaning
Three Principles of Food Poisoning Prevention
enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (O157)
Campylobacter
Salmonella species
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Staphylococcus aureus

Spore-Forming Bacteria, Norovirus, Parasites, and Natural Toxins

In large-batch curries and stews, watch out for Clostridium perfringens (Welchii), which forms heat-resistant spores: divide cooked food into small portions to cool rapidly, and stir from the bottom when reheating. Clostridium botulinum in cans/vacuum packs and Bacillus cereus in grains like fried rice also form spores.

Norovirus, common in winter, spreads via bivalves like oysters or the stool and vomit of infected individuals; heat bivalves to a core temperature of 85–90°C for at least 90 seconds. Since alcohol is ineffective, disinfect with sodium hypochlorite or boiling water (85°C or higher for at least 1 minute), and clean up vomit immediately wearing a mask and gloves before it dries.

The parasite Anisakis found in mackerel and squid is not killed by vinegar, wasabi, or soy sauce; prevent infection through visual inspection, thorough cooking, or freezing at −20°C for at least 24 hours.

Leaving red-fleshed fish like mackerel or tuna at room temperature produces heat-stable histamine, causing hives. Remove potato sprouts and green skin completely because they contain solanine, and never allow unlicensed staff to prepare pufferfish (fugu), which contains lethal tetrodotoxin.

Key points


  • Prevent Clostridium perfringens in curry by dividing into small portions and cooling rapidly; prevent Norovirus in bivalves by heating the core to 85–90°C for at least 90 seconds.

  • Disinfect Norovirus with sodium hypochlorite or heat at 85°C or higher for at least 1 minute, as alcohol is poorly effective.

  • Anisakis is not killed by vinegar or wasabi and must be destroyed by cooking or freezing at −20°C for 24 hours or longer.
WordMeaning
Clostridium perfringens (Welchii)
Norovirus
sodium hypochlorite
Anisakis parasite
histamine
solanine

Receiving, Storing Ingredients, and Temperature Control

Upon delivery, inspect item names, quantities, freshness, package damage, food temperatures, and date labels ('Use-by date' for perishable foods and 'Best-before date' for quality assurance). Never refreeze frozen items that have partially thawed.

Do not bring cardboard boxes into the kitchen as they carry insects and bacteria, and store ingredients on shelves or racks (sunoko) rather than directly on the floor. In the refrigerator, place raw meat and fish in sealed containers on the bottom shelf so blood or juice (drip) cannot drip onto other foods.

The range from 10°C to 60°C (especially 20°C to 50°C), where bacteria multiply rapidly, is called the 'temperature danger zone'. Keep refrigerators at 10°C or below, freezers at −15°C or below, and hot-holding equipment at 65°C or above; cool cooked foods rapidly to around 20°C within 30 minutes (or around 10°C within 60 minutes).

Thaw frozen foods in a refrigerator, under running cold water, or in a microwave, avoiding room-temperature thawing. Measure the core temperature of hamburgers by inserting a disinfected probe into the thickest center, and if a refrigerator reads an abnormal 18°C, check the door and food and report to a supervisor immediately.

Receiving, Storing Ingredients, and Temperature Control

Key points


  • Maintain refrigerators at 10°C or below, freezers at −15°C or below, and hot holding at 65°C or above to avoid the temperature danger zone (10–60°C).

  • Cool cooked foods rapidly 'to around 20°C within 30 minutes, or to around 10°C within 60 minutes'.

  • Store raw meat and fish in sealed containers on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator to prevent secondary contamination from drip.
WordMeaning
use-by date (Shōhikigen) and best-before date (Shōmikigen)
temperature danger zone
core thermometer
drip (meat/fish exuded liquid)
secondary contamination

Employee Health, Grooming, and Hygienic Handwashing

Staff experiencing diarrhea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, or hand cuts must report to their supervisor before starting work and refrain from food handling. Do not bring watches or rings into the kitchen; wear caps covering bangs and ears completely, and use a sticky roller to remove hair and dust from the kitchen coat.

Before using the restroom, always take off your kitchen coat (hakui) and apron outside the kitchen and change into restroom-only footwear. Perform hygienic handwashing before serving and after touching raw meat, fish, or eggs, using the restroom, or handling trash.

Double handwashing ('wash with soap and rinse under running water' repeated twice) is highly effective. Wash 'fingertips, under nails, base of the thumb, between fingers, and wrists' carefully, dry completely with a paper towel, and rub in 70–80% alcohol sanitizer.

Key points


  • Report symptoms like diarrhea or vomiting immediately to a supervisor and do not engage in direct food-handling work.

  • Remove your kitchen coat and apron and change into dedicated restroom footwear before entering the toilet to prevent bringing contamination into the kitchen.

  • Practice double handwashing with soap and running water, dry moisture completely with a paper towel, and then apply alcohol spray.
WordMeaning
sticky roller (lint roller)
white kitchen coat (hakui)
double handwashing
cross-contamination

Washing and Sanitizing Utensils, Cleaning, and Waste Management

Color-code cutting boards and knives for 'meat, fish, vegetables, and ready-to-eat foods' to prevent cross-contamination. Wash tableware and tools in the order of 'pre-rinse → wash with detergent → rinse with running water → sanitize → dry'; for hot-water sanitization, immerse in water at 80°C or higher for at least 5 minutes.

When using an automatic dishwasher, remove food scraps and toothpicks, load plates without overlapping, and check detergent levels and the rinse temperature (80°C or higher) daily. Dilute sodium hypochlorite accurately (e.g., if 5 L of water uses 20 mL of concentrate, 10 L uses 40 mL), and store detergents in labeled containers away from food.

Clean kitchen drains and grease traps daily to prevent odors and pests, and regularly degrease ventilation fans and duct hoods to prevent fires or dripping grease. Use lidded trash cans, and if a dish breaks during cooking, stop work immediately, collect all shards, and discard nearby uncovered food.

Clean customer restrooms using toilet-dedicated brushes and mops, and disinfect doorknobs and flush levers. Never wash restroom cleaning tools in kitchen sinks.

Key points


  • Process utensils in the order 'wash with detergent → rinse with running water → sanitize → dry', and sanitize with hot water at 80°C or higher for at least 5 minutes.

  • Load dishes into automatic dishwashers without stacking them, and check rinse temperature (80°C or higher) and detergent concentration daily.

  • If glass or ceramic breaks during preparation, stop work immediately and discard any surrounding food that may contain shards.
WordMeaning
hot-water sanitization
automatic dishwasher
grease trap
exhaust duct hood

HACCP Critical Control, Allergens, and Food Poisoning Response

Under 'Hygiene Management Incorporating HACCP Concepts' in restaurants, dishes are divided into three groups to control temperature and time, and daily inspection results are recorded and retained.

Group 1 'Non-heated foods (sashimi, chilled tofu, salad, etc.)' must be prepared with clean tools and kept refrigerated until just before serving. Group 2 'Heated foods (steak, tempura, hamburger, etc.)' must be cooked thoroughly to the center, and Group 3 'Foods repeatedly heated and cooled (curry, soup, sauces, etc.)' must be cooled rapidly and reheated thoroughly.

Because the allergens in the 8 mandatory specific raw materials (shrimp, crab, walnut, wheat, buckwheat, egg, milk, peanut) are not destroyed by heat, use washed dedicated utensils and separate frying oil. If food poisoning is suspected, report to the manager immediately, preserve leftover ingredients and food samples without discarding them, and follow the instructions of the public health center (Hokenjo).

Key points


  • Under restaurant HACCP, classify dishes into three groups—'Non-heated', 'Heated', and 'Repeatedly heated and cooled'—and record daily monitoring results.

  • Allergens of the 8 mandatory specific ingredients are not eliminated by heat, so cook with dedicated tools and separate frying oil.

  • If food poisoning is suspected, report to a supervisor immediately, preserve remaining ingredients, and follow the public health center's instructions.
WordMeaning
HACCP hygiene management system
non-heated food items (Group 1)
mandatory specific raw materials (8 allergens)
allergen
public health center (Hokenjo)

Official references