When you think about food safety, what comes to mind? Sanitized surfaces, proper food handling, and strict hygiene protocols? While these are all important, there’s one piece of the puzzle that often goes unnoticed: uniforms! From food preparation to service, the right uniform can make a world of difference.
With Worldwide Food Service Safety Month happening in December, it’s the perfect time to think about how something as simple as a uniform can help keep our food safe. In industries where food is handled, safety starts from the moment the day begins – and that means starting with clean, safe uniforms.
Why Food Safety Matters
Every day, people rely on their food being processed and served safely – whether it’s the sandwich you grab during lunch or the ingredients that make it to your grocery store shelf. A single slip-up in safety can lead to widespread health issues and significant financial losses for businesses.
That’s why Worldwide Food Safety Month is so important – it’s a reminder that when it comes to the food we eat, there’s no room for cutting corners. In food-related industries, the stakes are high. Every year, about 4 million Canadians are affected by food-borne illnesses, making it clear that prioritizing food safety is critical.
The Role of Uniforms in Food Safety
Uniforms designed for food service and processing play a role in protecting both the food and the workers. From reducing allergen risks to minimizing contamination from outside clothes, specialized uniforms are much more than just an outfit – they’re a barrier between food and potential hazards.
Preventing Cross-Contamination: Food service uniforms are designed to create a clean barrier between employees and the food, reducing the risk of contamination from dirt, germs, or particles.
Strict Standards: When uniforms are professionally laundered, they meet strict industry standards that go beyond regular laundering, offering peace of mind in their protection.
Consistency: A professional uniform rental company makes sure your team’s uniforms are consistently clean, delivered on time, and ready to go.
Safety: Food service uniforms are specifically designed with safety in mind. Features such as snap buttons, closed seams, and durable, breathable materials help prevent tiny fibers or threads from contaminating food. Each element is carefully crafted to meet these safety standards.
Northern Uniform Service: Raising the Bar with ISO 22000 Certification
Not all uniform rental services are created equal. At Northern Uniform Service, we are proud to be the only uniform rental company in North America to achieve and maintain ISO 22000:2018 certification – a globally recognized food safety standard. This certification guarantees that every step of the process is designed to support food safety.
What does this mean?
- Confidence in Compliance: Our ISO 22000 certification guarantees that our food safety management system meets and exceeds statutory and regulatory requirements.
- Customer Satisfaction: We actively evaluate and meet customer requirements, making sure our services align with your food safety needs.
- Proven Accountability: Third-party audits verify that we’re delivering on our promise to maintain the highest level of safety.
P.A.S.S | Food Program: Setting the Standards in Food Safety Uniforms
Our Protective Apparel Safety System (P.A.S.S) Food Program goes beyond the basics. Every garment in the program is designed, tracked, and maintained with food safety in mind.
Here’s how it’s done:
- Traceable Uniforms: Each P.A.S.S garment has a yellow-backed barcode and RFID tracking, allowing for precise inventory management and safe handling throughout the process.
- Allergen-Free Assurance: Random protein swabs verify that our garments meet strict allergen-free standards, offering peace of mind.
- Documented Safety: With full traceability and third-party auditing, our program guarantees compliance at every step.
About Northern Uniform Service
At Northern Uniform Service, we’re proud to call Sudbury home while serving Northern Ontario and beyond – from the Greater Toronto Area to Timmins, Hamilton, and Sault. Ste. Marie, and North Bay. With depots in Bradford and a new one in Timmins, we’re growing to better serve our customers.
We love recognizing our hardworking team with the ‘Ken Awards,’ like the ‘Food Safety Ken’ for those who go the extra mile in making sure our food processing uniforms are handled with the highest quality care. It’s just one way we show how much we appreciate the effort that goes into keeping uniforms clean and safe.
Don’t leave your team’s safety and comfort to chance. Contact us today to get started on your personalized consultation and quote on high-quality, durable food processing uniform solutions tailored to your business needs.
