Sandra Piddock
Guru
In a previous existence, I worked in catering. It was around 1990, and the requirement for basic food hygiene qualifications for catering staff was just becoming law in the UK. I was cooking in a cafe in Padstow, Cornwall at the time, and our boss put us all through the training.
I got very stressed when the lecturer was outlining all the different types of food poisoning bacteria, and telling us how easy it was to pass on food poisoning. Our cafe was very busy, and it wasn't unusual to serve up 100+ breakfasts, and over 200 lunches and snacks. I had visions of the Royal Cornwall Hospital being inundated with people I'd poisoned.
My boss asked me how long I'd been in catering - it was more than 20 years at that time. He then asked me how many people I'd fed in that time - it ran into thousands, maybe tens of thousands. Finally, he said, 'How many people have you poisoned with your food?' As far as I knew, the answer was a big fat zero.
Since that epiphany moment, I've never worried about it. I've always observed good kitchen hygiene, and used a liberal helping of basic common sense, and I still haven't poisoned anybody as far as I am aware. Do you every worry about giving someone food poisoning, or are you happy that you do all you can to avoid problems?
I got very stressed when the lecturer was outlining all the different types of food poisoning bacteria, and telling us how easy it was to pass on food poisoning. Our cafe was very busy, and it wasn't unusual to serve up 100+ breakfasts, and over 200 lunches and snacks. I had visions of the Royal Cornwall Hospital being inundated with people I'd poisoned.
My boss asked me how long I'd been in catering - it was more than 20 years at that time. He then asked me how many people I'd fed in that time - it ran into thousands, maybe tens of thousands. Finally, he said, 'How many people have you poisoned with your food?' As far as I knew, the answer was a big fat zero.
Since that epiphany moment, I've never worried about it. I've always observed good kitchen hygiene, and used a liberal helping of basic common sense, and I still haven't poisoned anybody as far as I am aware. Do you every worry about giving someone food poisoning, or are you happy that you do all you can to avoid problems?