Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/80263
Foster Frable pliance has become a challenge for most foodservice operators and design- ers of facilities with self-service offer- ings. This includes salad bars, hot buf- fets, toppings bars, and displays of cus- tomer-accessed pastry, bread and fruit. Known as NSF/ANSI Standard 2, these The Food Shield Challenge W By Foster Frable, Clevenger Frable LaVallee foster f@cfldesign.com ith the adoption of the 2008 NSF regulations regarding food shields (sneeze guards), com- One of several challenges we face regulations have been established by agencies chargedwith foodservice safe- ty, even though there is no known record of anyone becoming sick from eating food not protected against sneezes or coughs. On the other hand, recorded contamination has come from chemicals, drugs, or body fluids added to food as an act of sabotage or terror- ism. Of course, there is no food shield that will stop this from happening. with food shields is that the require- ments for use or enforcement in food- service establishments are outside the scope of any NSF standard. For exam- ple, state and local health officials have jurisdiction and are solely responsible for enforcement once a food shield is in use. As a result, enforcement is highly inconsistent, and sometimes even with- in the same jurisdiction. This has been an ongoing cause for concern for years, and the requirement for the use and configuration of food shields is no exception. It's random at best. Nor are food shields required for temporary events like buffets at banquets, or plat- ters of open food in offices, meeting rooms,clubs,or churches in most areas. Major issues with current food shield requirements include the following: • The 2008 standards require that breath guards sit low and to the front so customer access to a food pan or display is quite difficult, particularly for tall peo- ple or anyone physically challenged that can't easily reach under the shield to access food, especially in the rear of a service piece. The requirement for side panels causes them to stick out awk- wardly over the tray slides. •The new designs require more labor and materials to manufacture. This cost penalty occurred at the same timewhen continued on page 24 !"!#$ &# '() The Perfect Mix of Quality,Performance and Value. "#"$%&" $' ()''"% *+'& ,-$ . /0-$ -.%& /+01 2+3.4' ,'5.!' !"# %&' () *+,' 20 FEDA News & Views !"#$%&# ( (&#) *(&& +,-. 32<,5;(9; () )(&#)/0&,1#234#5).!,2 6" , 7 , % 1 % 7 8 5,2 . !(9 1# ,% 1%7 :%); () -"(; 7