Hygiene In Fast Food Restaurants: Top 10 Hygiene Restaurants

This blog post is designed to help you improve your overall health with the intention of avoiding injuries or infections that may be caused by a lack of hygiene in fast food restaurants.

Most people know what to do when it comes to basic hygiene practices at home and in the office, but few take the same precautions when eating out.

As a result, restaurants are often cited for poor health practices. According to recent surveys, 85% percent of Americans believed that poor hygiene in restaurants could lead to food poisoning.

What Is Restaurant Hygiene?

To understand the concept of restaurant hygiene, it is important to first have an idea of what terms like “hygiene” and “cleanliness” mean.

The word hygiene is a compound from the words “hygiene,” which means washing and cleansing, and “sani,” which means to get rid of dirt or other unsanitary materials.

In its broadest sense, as in this article, it refers to sanitation and cleanliness. However, in the context of actual restaurants, we are specifically referring to food hygiene.

To be more specific, this article tackles restaurant hygiene for its relevance on the food safety topic.

Hygiene In Fast Food Restaurants: Top 10 Hygiene Restaurants

Just below is a list of the most hygienic fast food restaurant chains. Make sure that you read the article all the way down to find out more about them.

1. McDonald’s

This fast food chain already has a lot of hygiene-related advantages over other fast food establishments. McDonald’s is the leader in providing its customers with proper, healthy meals while also offering them proper customer service.

2. Subway

One of the most-known chains in the world, Subway has been around for more than three decades. With 2,500 stores in North America alone, it is currently the largest chain of its kind in the United States

The chain has maintained excellent hygiene throughout all these years, and it is expected that this popularity will continue into the future as well.

3. Wendy’s

Wendy’s is a fast food chain that has been operating since 1969. It was founded by Dave Thomas, who started out as a chili cook in Ainsley, Ohio.

He eventually came across the idea to sell his chili recipe in a hamburger restaurant. Since that day, Wendy’s has been one of the most popular restaurants all around the world.

4. Pizza Hut

The Pizza Hut chain is the second-largest pizza chain in the world. They promote healthy eating, and they also have culinary experts to advise them on what other products would go along with pizza to create a perfect dining experience.

It is also notable that their salad bar is currently the most-ordered salad bar around the

5. Taco Bell

Taco Bell is another fast food restaurant chain that has been around for more than three decades and has managed to maintain a high-quality level throughout all these years.

The chain has never advertised its ingredients, but it always has focused on providing customers with food of the very highest standard.

6. KFC

Since its establishment in Vietnam in 1952, KFC has grown to become a worldwide fast food restaurant chain that offers chicken as its signature dish.

KFC is an American company that works together with international franchisees to supply the company’s restaurants with proper customer service and good customer satisfaction.

7. In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out Burger is the only fast food chain that does not use automated assembly line techniques to prepare its food.

The cooking of In-N-Out Burgers is an old-fashioned process involving a batter made of special ingredients that are applied directly onto the meat.

8. Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chipotle has been operating since 1993 and is one of the largest chains of its kind in the United States.

The company offers customers a customizable menu, allowing them to choose among various sizes and styles of tortillas, various types of beans, chicken, steak, and several other types of food.

It also offers them several different tortillas at their disposal and a variety of sauces that are used to adjust the taste of their food.

9. Jack In The Box

Jack In The Box has nearly 3,000 restaurants all over North America and is currently owned by Yum Brands Inc., which also owns KFC and Taco Bell as well.

The company was started in 1951 as a hot dog stand, and since then, it has managed to constantly increase its customer base.

10. Arby’s

This chain of fast food restaurants was established in 1964 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is currently owned by Roark Capital Group. Arby’s operates more than 1,800 locations all over North America.

How Clean Are Fast Food Restaurants?

There are several statistical methods that have been developed to determine the level of cleanliness in fast food restaurants.

These methods were created during the 1990s when a large number of cases of food poisoning were reported around the United States and Europe.

The main methods are typically used to measure the number of bacteria present on a given surface.

1. Fecal-O-Meter

This is a device invented by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to measure the amount of fecal matter present on a given surface.

It can be used in any place where food is prepared, including in fast food restaurants as well as dentists’ offices and medical centers.

2. Food Hand Test

This is also known as the How Clean is Your Hands? The test works similarly to the fecal-o-meter test in that it measures the number of bacteria present on a given surface with your bare hands after washing them beforehand.

3. Hand Towel Test

This is an alternative to the Food Hand Test in that you still use your hands, but instead of using them for performing the test, you simply wipe them with a towel.

All of the bacteria in the towel are transferred to your hands, and then you use them to touch a surface with known quantities of fecal matter present on it.

Health inspectors use this technique to determine whether a restaurant is clean enough for inspection or not.

4. Microbial Sweep Test

This method has been described as “the most advanced and effective foodborne pathogen testing method that health inspectors have.

It was created by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after its researchers learned of an Italian study on food protection in which this method was used.

5. Total Microbial Count

The Total Microbial Count is a common form of testing done by health inspectors using a device that has been developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to measure the number of bacteria present on a given surface in fast food restaurants.

The number ranges from 200,000 for a washroom toilet to over 1,000,000 for certain types of counters in kitchens that are used to prepare food for customers.

6. Checklist

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has developed the Checklist as a quick way to measure the number of bacteria present on numerous surfaces in any type of commercial establishment, including fast food restaurants and movie theaters. The number is given on a scale from 0 to 5, with 0 being very clean and 5 being very dirty.

7. Visual Inspection

This is the most common method used by health inspectors to determine whether a restaurant has been cleaned properly or not.

A typical visual inspection includes frequent checks of the floors, bathrooms, food preparation surfaces, and other places in which dirt and bacteria are known to accumulate quickly.

Food Safety And Sanitation Practices In Restaurants

Fast food restaurants usually have better food safety standards than the rest of the restaurants since they have to constantly deal with threats of potential lawsuits that could cripple their business.

In Europe, fast food chains are also required to employ special people who are responsible for supervising food safety and sanitation practices.

In order to reduce the risk of customers getting sick from eating in their restaurant chains, fast food restaurants provide them with a variety of alternative sources of information regarding their food preparation methods, including brochures that contain nutritional facts about their meals as well as special guides for children who want to choose a healthier alternative when eating at these facilities.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to choosing a fast food restaurant, remember that you do not have to fear the risk of getting yourself sick by eating at one of these establishments.

These are only a few examples, but many other chains have better hygiene standards than those mentioned above and can provide you with great service.