September is National Food Safety Month! We're excited to once again bring you tips, plans, talking points, and general information -- everything you need for a safe facility and a well-educated staff.
Leading up to, throughout, and beyond September 2026, we highlight information provided by the National Restaurant Association and their "Recipe for Food Safety Success" initiative for you to best equip your food-handling team. You can access all this year's resources below...
Week 1 - Food Safety Culture
The foundation of every successful food safety program isn't a policy or procedure. It's a
culture.
When food safety becomes part of how your team thinks, acts, and works every day, compliance becomes confidence, accountability becomes shared, and protecting guestsbecomes second nature.
To help you get started, we've compiled a collection of relevant resources, including a Food Safety Culture Recipe Card (linked below).
These tools will provide you practical guidance to help build the foundation your team deserves for long-term success.
Week 2 - Cleaning & Sanitizing
As we continue our Recipe for Food Safety Success during National Food Safety Month Week 2, we're focusing on one of the most important ingredients for protecting guests and supporting your team's success: proper cleaning and sanitizing.
A clean kitchen is about more than appearances. When cleaning and sanitizing become part of your team's daily routine, you help reduce risk, reinforce accountability, and create an
environment where food safety can thrive. From food-contact surfaces to equipment and
workstations, every detail matters.
To support your efforts, we've created a Cleaning & Sanitizing Bundle that includes:
• Cleaning & Sanitizing Recipe Card
• Cleaning & Sanitizing Poster Pack
• Shift Meeting Brief
• Team Knowledge Quiz
Week 3 - Cross-Contamination
Cross-contamination is often invisible, but its impact can be significant. From raw ingredient
handling to shared equipment and food contact surfaces, small oversights can create big risks for guests and operations.
The good news? Consistent habits and proper training can make all the difference.
To help your team, we've created a Cross-Contamination Bundle that includes:
• Cross-Contamination Recipe Card
• Team Poster
• Shift Meeting Brief
These resources are designed to reinforce the simple daily behaviors that help prevent
foodborne illness and keep food safety top of mind.
Week 4 - Personal Hygiene
Food safety is in your team's hands. Literally.
Whether it's proper handwashing, changing gloves at the right time, or staying home when ill,
small daily actions have a big impact on the safety of every meal served.
This week's Personal Hygiene Bundle include:
• Personal Hygiene Recipe Card
• Handwashing & Hygiene Posters
• Shift Meeting Brief
These resources are designed to help establish clear expectations, reinforce accountability, andbuild consistent habits across your team
Week 5 - Time & Temperature
Just a few extra minutes or degrees can create food safety risks that impact your operation, yourteam, and your guests. From receiving deliveries to storage, preparation, cooking, cooling, and service, maintaining proper time and temperature control is essential to keeping food safe.
This week's Time & Temperature bundle includes:
• Time & Temperature Recipe Card
• Food Temperature Safety Chart
• Shift Meeting Brief
• Time & Temperature Policy Template
These resources are designed to help reinforce critical temperature thresholds, proper
thermometer use, and consistent monitoring procedures across your operation.