FOOD/BEVERAGE TEMPERATURE TESTING

 

POLICY STATEMENT:

The Division of Veterans Healthcare Services requires each of the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes to establish/implement protocols to ensure food products/items and beverages are served at the proper temperatures, operating with safe food handling practices.

PURPOSE:

This policy/procedure shall serve to ensure veteran home residents receive a diet that is served at the proper temperature.

PROCEDURE:

A. New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes

  1. The New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes shall establish protocols to ensure the accurate temperature testing of foods and beverages, to verify veteran home residents receive a diet that is served at the proper temperature.

 

B. Food Services Department

  1. Calibrating a bi-metallic thermometer
 

a. Insert the bottom tip of the thermometer into ice water/ice water slush until the indicator stabilizes.

b. Adjust the calibration nut so the indicator reads 32 degrees (the calibration nut is located under the face of the thermometer).

c. Calibrations and adjustments for accuracy of the thermometer shall be done monthly and recorded.

d. Calibration of a thermometer shall take place when extreme temperature change occurs, or if the thermometer has been dropped

 

  2. Digital Test Thermometer (Quick Temperature Readings)
 

a. Turn thermometer on.

b. Insert into food product and read temperature read out.

c. Replace batteries when thermometer indicator denotes a battery change is necessary.

 

  3. Documentation of Dummy Tray
 

a. Turn thermometer on by pressing on/off button. The current temperature will be displayed when the unit is ready to use.

b. Wipe the thermometer’s stainless steel stem with an alcohol prep pad before use, in between use, and after checking each food product temperature.

c. Insert into food product, read, and record temperature read out in the dummy tray logbook.

d. Repeat the above steps within 30 minutes and record temperature in the dummy tray logbook

e. The Food Services Supervisor/Designee will view the dummy tray logbook for food temperature accuracy.

f. Replace thermometer battery if errors occur.

 

Revised: July 2005

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