Food-Service-Manual-for-Health-Care-Institutions

Exhibit 5.2. Sample Policy and Procedure for the Food Service Department’s Policies
and Procedures Manual (continued)
Department of Food and
Nutrition Services,
Community Hospital Policy number: 1306
Effective date: March 2004
POLICY MANUAL Page 2 of 2
Before a new product is to be used on the menu, it will be tested for acceptance.
Procedure:
1. Except on approved occasions, the taste panel will be conducted on the third Friday of
each month at 1:30 p.m.
2. The Assistant Director for Production and Service will have the overall responsibility of
the panel.
3. Assistance will be given by the Food Stores Manager (that is, he or she will invite participants,
tabulate forms, and so on).
4. Water, cups, plates, napkins, and utensils will be made available for each participant.
5. There will be no talking, except to ask questions, during the taste panel.
6. Each product is to be individually evaluated by each participant.
7. Each individual is to independently score the results.
8. There will be no joking, horseplay, and so forth allowed during the meeting.
9. Answering pages and telephone calls will be kept to a minimum.
10. There will be no more than 12 people at each panel (including the Production Manager
and the Assistant Director, Procurement and Production).
11. No food is to be taken out of the conference room by the participants.
12. The panel will be made up of:
Director
Assistant Director, Procurement and Production
Assistant Director, Nutrition Services or Clinical Dietitian
Food Stores Manager
Production Manager
Other food service personnel as invited
Nursing Services representative
Purchasing representative
Administration representative
The Assistant Director, Procurement and Production, will invite persons from the preceding
list to participate. Invitations will be issued a week in advance. Those unable to attend
should notify the Assistant Director as soon as possible. After participants have tasted products
and finished the evaluation phase, they are to return to their work area.
Everyone should be honest and objective in the evaluation.
Planning and Decision Making
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