FPA reissues safety guidelines on foodservice packaging handling

The UK Foodservice Packaging Association (FPA) has reissued ‘Guidance on the Safe Handling of Foodservice Packaging’.

The guideline reminds food businesses the importance of safe packaging handling. It has been released following the government’s announcement to permit the hospitality sector to reopen starting 4 July.

With the new guidance, the government has made it mandatory for the hospitality sector to comply with the Covid-19 prevention measures in order to keep the businesses’ employees and customers safe.

It also provided detailed advice on procedures for sanitising surfaces, social distancing and PPE.  

The new guideline requires packaging to be stored in a secure dry facility and accessible only to the staff.

All the boxes and the packaging should be stored above the ground level and never allow it to be in contact with the floor.

Employees handling the packaging are required to abide by the packaging’s storage instructions on the outer transit packaging.

Additionally, packaging should be left in the inner, non-porous plastic sleeve and handled with only gloves before service.

FPA executive director Martin Kersh said: “We have been advised by food hygiene experts that the key objective is to reduce ‘touch points’ and that the operator has full knowledge of the provenance of the containers being filled. 

“Single use packaging for foodservice is produced in certified, food-contact compliant manufacturing conditions and untouched by human hands to the point of delivery.”

The FPA is an industry body representing distributors, manufacturers and operators who make, distribute and use disposable, single use foodservice packaging.