The high rate of unemployed chefs combined with an increased demand for prepared meal delivery is presenting a potential hazard to your health. Many who are out of work are rightfully scrambling to find ways to utilize their skills and continue making a living. Naturally, there has been a surge in chefs now offering “prepared meals and catering for your family”. Though well-intentioned, they may be putting you at risk.
Here are 3 critical questions you need to ask before hiring a chef to prepare meals for your family,
Where are you cooking?
It is illegal to prepare and deliver meals from home. Professionals know this. Food must be prepared in a Board of Health and/or a Department of Agriculture Certified commercial kitchen. Why? To protect you. If someone is cooking in their home you don’t know if their kitchen is clean, the food has been properly sourced, the cat is sitting on the counter, the kids are licking the spoons, they’re turning last nights’ leftovers into your dinner, or if they even have soap and toilet paper in the house! Certified kitchens are regularly inspected, unannounced, to protect the public and the reports are public information. We are required to follow extreme guidelines of cleanliness, processes and procedures to ensure that the food on your plate is safe, which brings me to the next question…
Are you currently certified in safe food handling?
Food professionals, even those who are self employed or working on the side, are required to be certified in safe food handling and to renew that certification on a regular basis. That is, training in proper food handling through the entire process - purchase to transport, storage, preparation, cleanliness, monitoring of time and temperature, cooling procedures and safe delivery. Requirements vary depending on where you live. The Zest chefs are ServSafe certified per Bucks County laws. Other types of certification in PA include Prometric, NRFSP and 360 Training. Not in PA? Simply google “food safety certification in (your state)” to know what’s required.
Are you licensed and insured?
Anyone who is selling you food of any kind must also register their business with the state and county and have the proper food license (e.g. catering/commissary, food truck, food retail…) prior to operating. They should also have general liability insurance.
In addition to the above questions you will of course want to ask about experience and references just as you would when hiring any other service professional. These are questions you should be asking no matter when you’re hiring but now more than ever they are critical to your health and well being. Please be safe!!