UK: TEAL Patents, the UK based supplier of portable hand basins and sinks, has put out advice to festival vendors about the potential for the spread of illnesses stemming from their own and festival-goers’ hygiene related oversights.
Festivals across the world are renowned for their poor washing and hygiene facilities. For days on end, people go without showering or even washing their hands properly. Although large festivals, such as Glastonbury, do offer advice on the importance of hand washing to prevent illness, this is often ignored.
When found at festivals, stomach illnesses, such as gastroenteritis, spread to around 54% of attendees with food vendors being predominantly to blame.
If you are a street food vendor at a festival, your hygiene rating will be displayed at the forefront of your equipment. However, just because you practise efficient hygiene, doesn’t mean the individuals buying from you will.
It takes just one person with harmful bacteria on their hands to touch you or your counter whilst exchanging money or food to spread germs and illness. Those handling high-risk foods at festivals need to follow the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health regulations and ensure they have running, hot water, hand wash facilities to prevent cross-contamination.
In preparation for the festival season, TEAL Patents has a wide range of mobile and portable hand wash units.
The Super Stallette gives mobile vendors and outdoor caterers a hand wash under running, hot water without the need for mains water supply or drainage. All it takes is a 13 amp socket.
Manty Stanley, managing director at TEAL Patents, said: “We are approaching a very busy period for festivals and hand hygiene must be a top priority. Mobile vendors and outdoor caterers must have access to hand wash facilities or risk being closed down by the environmental health officer as well as exposing customers to bacteria such as salmonella and E.coli.
“Visible hand washing facilities build trust that handlers of food products are keeping germs at bay and when you purchase foods from them, they’re safe to eat. Providing visible access to hygiene and hand washing facilities acts as a constant reminder for team members to wash their hands, especially during busy periods.”
Despite being part of the food hygiene regulations, having running, hot water and a hand-washing facility is not always possible and sometimes mobile or outdoor caterers have to walk to nearby facilities to wash their hands.
Designed for the most hygienic hand wash, TEAL’s Super Stallette requires no access to mains water or drainage and will hold enough water for up to 50 hand washes.
The Super Stallette includes a touch-free sensor to activate the wash cycle and a large, square bowl. Available in a TEAL-blue colour scheme, the unit has the add-on option of a soap dispenser and paper towel holder to maximise hand hygiene.
All TEAL units are available for purchase or hire and available for delivery across mainland UK within 24 hours.
