COVID-19 - Let's Do This Right

As the world is struggling with the ramifications of COVID-19 no single industry has been hit harder than the food service/hospitality sector. I have worked in this industry in one aspect or another for my entire life.

I truly feel for the industry, everyone. We need to support the local businesses who are our neighbors and support our local communities, but we also need to support the national brands because they too support our neighbors and our local communities. For example, both Subway and Chic-fil-A are franchises that might be owned by the person on the next block. Keep in mind, the corporate chains employee many individuals in each area where they are located. I spent over 20 years working for a corporate chain and then for the franchisee who purchased my store. I grew up there, raised my children while I worked there, and eventually they worked there. I began as a 15-year old fry girl and left as an operating partner with a plethora of knowledge, skill, experience, and a family. My point is all these businesses are all significant to our communities and we need to do what we can to support one another as our states begin to re-open.

It is not going to be easy for anyone. The re-opening process can be terrifying and costly. Training, education, PPE (personal protective equipment), new chemicals, a new COVID-19 disinfection plan (because COVID-19 disinfection and food safety sanitation are NOT the same thing), more forms to fill out, and do employees really need to have their temperatures taken (yes). OSHA, the FDA, the WHO, the CDC, where is the correct information (and it keeps changing - sometimes by the hour)! All of this new terminology and protocol! This is a significant amount of responsibility.

How in the world is it possible for all of this to happen? I read an article yesterday where a manager of a national brand stated, “it’s just exhausting!” - because she was so overwhelmed by it all. It does not have to be and if it is, the risk mitigation steps will not take place. My fear is a bunch of checklists will be handed out by corporate offices only to be stacked on the clipboard and hung on the wall with several other checklists that are not being filled out (I think she said she had 10 new forms, why?). PLEASE DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN. None of us want to go through another “shelter in place” order, nor do you want to experience the notoriety of being responsible for a COVID-19 outbreak.

Industry folks take your time find the right resources and do this right. We’ve never been through a situation as volatile as this one and we don’t want to do it again, let’s mitigate this situation together and do it right the first time. We are a resilient industry and we will get through this, together. 

Francine L. Shaw is President of Savvy Food Safety, Inc. a woman-owned company that offers a robust roster of services, including consulting, food safety education, food safety inspections, crisis management training, developing COVID-19 response strategies, norovirus policies, curriculum development, responsible alcohol service training, and more. The Savvy Food Safety team has more than 100 combined years of industry experience in restaurants, casinos, and convenience stores and has helped numerous clients prevent foodborne illnesses and elevate safety and cleanliness protocols due to COVID-19. Francine has been featured as a food safety expert in numerous media outlets, including the Dr. Oz Show, the Huffington Post, iHeartRadio, Food Safety News, Food Management Magazine and Food Service Consultants Society International.