COVID-19 pandemic guidance from the FDA for restaurants, grocery stores, and delivery services

United States

The FDA has shared best practice guidelines for restaurants, delivery services, grocery stores, and other retail food businesses to keep their employees and customers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FDA guidelines address 4 specific areas:
1) *Monitor Employee Health* - Management must instruct employees to speak up about possible COVID-19 symptoms or exposure and implement workplace controls to screen and reduce possible transmission. Workplace controls can include: Pre-screening employees for high temperatures, increase disinfecting and cleaning of workspaces and equipment, wearing face mask and gloves, and practicing social distancing of at least 6 ft when possible.
2) *Emphasize Personal Hygiene for Employees* - When working, employees must wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Employees should also avoid touching exposed food or surfaces with their bare hands and need to always wear gloves.
3) *Follow and enhance Food Safety Protocols* - Food establishments must follow established food safety protocols and increase safety measures to help customers maintain good infection protocols including encouraging spacing in lines, discontinuing salad bars and buffets, and discouraging bringing pets into stores.
4) *Manage Food Pick-Up and Delivery* - For food, pick-up establishments need to create protocols to allow customers to maintain social distancing and maintain food safety standards. For delivery, no-contact delivery should be enacted to maintain proper social distancing.

This is not a comprehensive list and is only best practice guidelines from the FDA. If you spot issues or violations, please report at safelyhq.com/tag/coronavirus-covid-19

To review the in-depth guidance from the FDA please go here: www.fda.gov/media/136811/download

Source: FDA