Staphylococcus aureus Prevention for Memphis Food Service

Employee Health Screening & Hand Hygiene Protocols

The Shelby County Health Department requires food handlers with skin infections, cuts, or boils to be excluded from food preparation, as Staph aureus colonizes on human skin. Memphis food service operations must implement daily health assessments and enforce strict handwashing every time employees touch food, after restroom use, and after handling money or equipment. Employees should wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, or use alcohol-based sanitizers with at least 60% ethanol between handwashing. Wearing single-use gloves during food prep reduces direct contact, but gloves do not replace handwashing and must be changed between tasks.

Temperature Control & Cooling Procedures

Staphylococcus aureus produces heat-stable toxins in foods held between 40°F and 140°F (the danger zone), and these toxins cannot be destroyed by reheating. Memphis operations must maintain hot foods at 135°F or above and cold foods at 41°F or below, verified with calibrated thermometers checked daily. Foods prepared ahead of service must be cooled from 135°F to 70°F within 2 hours, then to 41°F within 4 additional hours—a critical step that prevents Staph toxin formation. Use shallow pans, blast chillers, or ice baths rather than cooling in deep stockpots, and document all temperature logs for health department inspection.

Sanitation Standards & Surface Contamination Prevention

The FDA Food Code, adopted by Shelby County, mandates that all food contact surfaces be cleaned with hot water and sanitizer (bleach solution at 100 ppm or approved quaternary ammonium compound) at least every 4 hours during service. Prep tables, cutting boards, and utensils must be sanitized between each task to prevent cross-contamination from raw proteins to ready-to-eat foods. Non-food contact surfaces like door handles, registers, and restroom areas should be cleaned daily; restrooms are a particular source of Staph transmission and require handwashing stations with soap and single-use towels. Work with your local Shelby County Health Department inspector to conduct quarterly sanitation audits and document all cleaning activities.

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