What qualifies as a 'food contact surface'?

A 'food contact surface' is defined as any surface that comes into direct contact with food during preparation, cooking, or serving. This includes various equipment, utensils, countertops, cutting boards, and dishes that engage with food in any way. It is crucial to ensure that these surfaces are properly cleaned and sanitized to prevent contamination and protect public health.

Choosing only utensils used for serving food as the definition would be too restrictive since it overlooks numerous other surfaces that also interact directly with food. Surfaces that do not touch food and those used for storing packaged food do not qualify as food contact surfaces because they do not have a direct interaction with food items, which increases the risk of contamination if they are not properly maintained.

Understanding what qualifies as a food contact surface is vital in establishing safety protocols in a culinary setting. Keeping these surfaces clean and designed for food handling is essential in maintaining hygiene standards and preventing foodborne illness.