6 steps to promote staff, customer allergen awareness

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Have a disclaimer up in your restaurant that lets customers know the efforts made to accommodate diners with special dietary needs.

Navigating the new food codes: Part 1

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Operators need to know the 8 major allergens and the best practices surrounding the use of separate containers and preparation methods designed to prevent…

An idea that’s catching on

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Until there is more education about food sensitivities, the onus remains on the consumer to make sure their meal is safe.

Protect yourself as well as your customers

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Companies that offer restaurant liability insurance have begun expanding policies to cover claims related to gluten reactions as well as food poisoning and…

Just like dominos this menu item shall fall

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Gluten free can be one of the best places for restaurants to shine, or just the opposite.

Some chains getting head start on menu transparency

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Some chains, while they don't necessarily offer allergen-free dining experiences, do let you know what's in their dishes in a clear, concise manner so diners…

Food allergies hit more city kids

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Food allergies and special dining needs are rising, so it's important for restaurants to learn how to cater to this growing demographic.

Top 5 things we didn't know we should be afraid of - part I

by Suzy Badaracco — President, Culinary Tides Inc

A study found that only 8 to 12 percent of gluten-free consumers said they bought gluten-free products because they or a member of their household has celiac…

Could be deadly, but essential for restaurant operations

If you have CO(2) fill ports or storage tanks in tight enclosed quarters, lower levels, or have older systems or systems that have not been inspected by…

Do you really offer gluten-free dishes?

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Identifying and avoiding potential contamination starts with the very basics in the kitchen.

Would YOU resist a robber?

The young manager knelt in front of the safe, a thousand thoughts cluttering his head. His fingers were nearly frozen with fear as he fumbled with the…

Gloves! The Controversy Continues - Part 3

by Paul Mcginnis — Vice President, Marketing, Ecolab Food Safety Specialties

If glove use is going to be effective, several factors should be considered when designing a disposable glove program. Size is vitally important to ensure the…

Live from New York

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

The International Restaurant and Foodservice Show, set for the first weekend in March, will include a new Healthy Solutions Pavilion this year.

Gloves! The Controversy Continues – Part 2

by Paul Mcginnis — Vice President, Marketing, Ecolab Food Safety Specialties

There is a general agreement that hand sanitation is a problem, but how that problem is best addressed is not always clear. The arguments to wear gloves and to…

As serious as a heart attack

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

It's a good idea to designate a senior member of the waitstaff or a manager to be the point person when dealing with diners with allergy concerns.

What else can I get you?

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Listen to your customers before -- and after -- tweaking your menu options, and teach your staff how to sell something new.

What’s on your kids’ menu?

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

About 8 percent of all Americans under the age of 18 have some kind of food allergy.

Gloves! The controversy continues – Part 1

by Paul Mcginnis — Vice President, Marketing, Ecolab Food Safety Specialties

To glove, or not to glove, that is the question. It’s a debate that has raged in foodservice circles for years and centers on the question of whether hand…

The most gluten-free meal of the day

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Some of the simplest sweets can become gluten-free with simple substitutions, like chocolate chip cookies made with non-wheat flours.

Philosophically Speaking

by Paul Mcginnis — Vice President, Marketing, Ecolab Food Safety Specialties

On occasion, I enjoy listening to the words of philosophers like Aristotle and Socrates or theologians such as Wesley or Spurgeon. But, hands down, the deep…