The Importance of Documenting Your Restaurant’s Gluten-Free Practices and Procedures

It’s simply a fact that restaurants are busy places. Getting good food out and serving customers promptly and attentively is the recipe for success, whether your establishment is a large franchise chain or a single location restaurant.

Because restaurants are such fast-paced environments, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that operational policies and procedures are often conveyed “on the fly” to employees by the chef or owner. Particularly in non-franchised establishments, procedures are often simply “in the chef’s head” and not written down, except for whatever regulations are required by the local health department.

The important thing is to write the procedures down and have the plan in place.

While the lack of formal procedures in many restaurants is understandable, it is problematic for establishments that want to safely serve the gluten-free community or other patrons with food allergies. Putting procedures in writing that are carefully followed to ensure safe food…