Crop Over Checklist For Food Vendors

Food vendors operating at events for the last lap of Crop Over are reminded to employ safe food practices to make the festival enjoyable for everyone.

Health authorities continue to emphasise the importance of proper hand hygiene in addition to other measures, to prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses.

These include:

• Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Drying hands with disposable tissue
• Using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, if soap and water are unavailable
• Having “running water” in a bucket with a tap to wash hands
• Wearing coverings on heads and beards
• Not wearing jewellery when serving food
• Wearing light, loose clothing
• Wearing clothing with sleeves
• Storing food 18 inches off the ground in outdoor settings
• Keeping food six inches from the floor in indoor settings
• Making sure food products are bought from reputable sources
• Covering food bins for waste/garbage
• Discarding bags of waste appropriately for collection
• Transporting food using appropriate transportation; for example, no vehicle that carries materials such as cement should be used to transport food. This may result in health inspectors condemning the food.
• Ensuring food is protected from flies and other pests
• Making sure that hot and cold foods are kept at the correct temperatures – hot foods above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and cold foods 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or below
• Ensuring utensils are used to serve food safely

Once these food safety tips are put into practice, they will ensure that everyone stays healthy and safe during the festival.

Author: Melissa Rollock

Publish: July 30, 2025