Answer Man: OK to handle raw meat without gloves? Does Ingles sell 'Top Tier' gas?

John Boyle Asheville Citizen Times

Published 12:26 PM EDT Sep 27, 2018

Today’s batch of burning questions, my smart-aleck answers and the real deal:

Question: After multiple complaints to a local grocery store's management about employees in their meat department handling uncooked meat products without gloves, I sent an inquiry to their corporate customer service. They responded, "Currently, there are no laws requiring the use of gloves when handling raw meat. All raw meat purchased from our meat department require an internal cook temperature to ensure that it is safe for consumption. The internal cook temperature varies based on the species of meat being cooked. Any food that is sold as a ready to eat product requires that we use gloves when handling it. We do require that all associates when they are entering the department or change species they are handling, wash their hands to prevent cross contamination. We also require that the surface they are cutting on is washed, rinsed, and sanitized between changing of species to prevent any cross contamination. In the future, we would be glad to cut your meat fresh using gloves upon request." What does the state and county do to regulate meat processing and retail sales? Shouldn’t all food handlers wear hand protection?

My answer: On another note entirely, have you seen that video making the rounds on
Facebook of a seal slapping a kayaker with an octopus? It's crazy. That cannot be sanitary.

Real answer: It looks like the store management was on the money here.

Buncombe County's Environmental Health Director Jessica Silver handled this one.

"There is a distinction between ready-to-eat foods and raw meats and the food handling requirements for each," Silver said. "The North Carolina Food Code 3-301.11 (B) requires no bare hand contact with ready to eat foods."

Ready-to-eat food means it's a food item that can be eaten without additional preparation to ensure food safety.

SEE ALSO: Answer Man: Restaurant sanitation ratings legit? Substation update

"No bare hand contact can be achieved by using gloves, utensils, deli paper, and other means to create a barrier between the hands of the food employee and the food product," Silver said.

Raw meat is addressed differently, mainly because people do not consume it before cooking.

"Because raw meat is not considered a ready-to-eat food product and is required to be cooked, the no bare hand contact rule does not apply," Silver said. "The Food Code requires minimum bare hand and arm contact with food that is not in ready-to-eat form."

Answer Man: Restaurant inspections frequency? Does council strive not to drive?

It's not a raw meat free-for-all out there, though.

"Meat markets have other controls in place to reduce the possibility of food being contaminated," Silver said, citing the example of requirements for ambient air temperature controls in all meat market preparation areas. "All food employees are required to wash their hands following a standard set of procedures and at a frequency to reduce the risk of cross contamination."

Further, Silver noted that food employees, "like servers or those who work in meat markets, are not required to wear gloves."

Question: You recently wrote about "Top Tier" fuel and noted some of the stations that carry gas with that designation. Do the Ingles Gas Express stores carry "Top Tier" fuel?

My answer: My question is, "Do you use your 10 cent off fuel points at Ingles, or wait until it's built up to something astronomical, like 25 cents off per gallon?" I always feel like I'm hitting a mini-lottery when I reach that point.

Real answer: "The fuel sold at our Gas Express has additives that meet federal detergent content requirements," said Ingles Markets Chief Financial Officer Ron Freeman. "We are responsive to customer demand, and may consider additives for Top Tier designation in the future."

RELATED: Answer Man: Is 'Top Tier' gas really worth it?

Headquartered in Black Mountain, Ingles operates over 200 stores in six Southeastern states, including 102 Gas Express locations.

Top Tier fuel is not to be confused with "premium gas," which is a higher octane fuel that some higher performance engines require. The Top Tier website states, "Top Tier Detergent Gasoline was first introduced in 2004 when a group of automakers recognized the need for a higher detergency gasoline standard than that required by regulation."

This is the opinion of John Boyle. Contact him at 828-232-5847 or jboyle@citizen-times.com

tion:
My answer:
Real answer:
Question:
My answer:
Real answer:
This is the opinion of John Boyle. Contact him at 828-232-5847 or jboyle@citizen-times.com

Let's block ads! (Why?)