September is national food safety month — thank your local establishments

Sept. 23, 2020

This paid piece is sponsored by the South Dakota Retailers Association. 

September is National Food Safety Month, and the South Dakota Retailers Association is celebrating restaurants and eateries statewide.

“This year, more than ever, we need to thank our local establishments that have kept us fed, safe and their doors open for customers and employees. Food establishments care about their customers, and they go the extra mile to ensure the food they serve is properly stored, prepared and served,” said executive director Nathan Sanderson.

“Food safety extends beyond customer satisfaction; it’s about taking care of their friends, family and neighbors.”

Food safety has always been a top issue for restaurants and eateries. Melissa Johnson, the founder and CEO of Oh My Cupcakes in Sioux Falls, explained that she and her staff think of food safety as their integrity, one of the shop’s core values.

“Food safety means upholding that integrity by preparing our baked-from-scratch cupcakes with the utmost attention to detail. We bake with love,” Johnson said. “And that might sound like a trite or cliche phrase, but when we bake with love, it means our guest is always at the forefront of our minds. Food safety comes naturally when you love and care for those you serve.”

People trust Oh My Cupcakes with their special moments like birthdays, weddings and baby showers, she said, adding that the most fundamental and foundational place to begin the celebration is with a personal and team commitment to food safety.

As 2020 evolved, so did the practices of businesses. Johnson explained that the events of this year have caused everyone in their company to rethink norms and innovate.

“It has sharpened our awareness and has led to a more focused commitment to safety,” she said. “2020 has caused us to continue to ask ourselves: Are we still giving our best? And how can we do even better?”

Kevin Beshara, owner and operator of the Colonial House Restaurant and Bar of Rapid City, explains that food safety is his restaurant’s priority and its No. 1 responsibility.

It took the restaurant just two sentences and a few snapshots on Facebook to let customers know that regular deep cleaning has always been a priority. The restaurant’s commitment to good food, good service and good hygiene shows up on its social media posts, but often with a wink.

As Beshara said, they work hard and are transparent about what they do, but they have fun doing it.

“Our guests depend on our team members to do the right thing when it comes to their safety,” he said. “As the old saying goes, ‘we are only as strong as the weakest link,’ and for me, it’s ensuring we have team members trained in food safety.”

 

Restaurants and eateries across the state work hard to make their customers happy, starting with safe, healthy food. During Food Safety Month, please take a moment to thank restaurant staff for their dedication to ensuring food safety.

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September is national food safety month — thank your local establishments

“This year, more than ever, we need to thank our local establishments that have kept us fed, safe, and their doors open for customers and employees. 

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