Happy Thanksgiving!
Usually a time of thanks, this time we are talking about an unpleasant holiday visitor, food poisoning.
You’ve worked hard to build your restaurant. Protect it. We are an experienced independent insurance agency, and we’re here to help.
CDC estimates that each year roughly 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) gets sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of food-borne diseases.[1]
There are 31 agents of foodborne illness. Bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause life—and business-altering outbreaks include Salmonella, E. coli, Shigella, Staphylococcus, Norovirus, and Cyclospora. These pathogens can appear in any food, such as meats, leafy greens, eggs, cheese, fish, tomatoes, melons, and berries.
Raw Poultry like Chicken and Turkey are often Sources of Salmonella
Many people think that washing your bird will eliminate this risk. However, it increases the risk of the bacteria being spread around your kitchen via water droplets and contact with the sink. So instead, cook your poultry to 165*F, then allow it to rest for 3 minutes before carving so that it will retain its juices.
Produce Accounts for Nearly Half of All Food-borne Illness
Does that mean we should avoid fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, and nuts? No. They are the basis for a healthy diet. But it is essential to wash them carefully. Also, be sure to wash your hands when eating raw foods like nuts and fruit as snack items. Germs on your hands will transfer to these finger foods and end up in your digestive system.
What about Food-borne Illnesses in Restaurants?
This is perhaps the most difficult thing to witness, especially in today’s fast-paced, knee-jerk reaction, write a bad review on social media, and ruin someone’s livelihood, society. Of course, restaurants bear responsibility for the food they serve. But most often, the pathogen was there before it came to the restaurant. And somehow, it slipped through the cracks during washing or cooking.
Remember the Factoid at the Beginning of this Article?
CDC estimates that each year roughly 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) gets sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases.
It’s a pretty common occurrence, and those numbers should be enough to keep some restaurateurs up at night.
Thankfully there is a Safety Net
We can’t guarantee that your restaurant will never be accused of food poisoning, legitimately or otherwise, but we can support you as you recover from it. Liability coverage for food-borne illness can cover business interruption that will likely happen as you lose revenue temporarily while people decide if they want to trust you again. It also covers a new marketing campaign to assist in the effort to win back your customers. Of course, there will also be loss of product and restocking, cleaning costs, and any vaccinations or testing that must be done.
If you are a Restaurant Owner
You’ve worked hard to build your business. Protect it. We are an experienced independent insurance agency, and we’re here to help. Contact us today.
If you are a Restaurant Patron
Until you have confirmed that you have food poisoning and know precisely how you got it, be careful about tarnishing a business’s reputation online. Remember, you can get food poisoning in your very own kitchen.
[1] “Burden of Food-borne Illness: Findings.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5 Nov. 2018, www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/2011-foodborne-estimates.html.
