The Essential Guide to Sneeze Guards for restaurants, cafes and bars
Maintaining Your Acrylic Sneeze Guard
Keeping surfaces clean and sanitary is pretty easy as long as you follow proper food clean up at the end of an event or work day. Setting cleaning procedures followed by staff is a good way to make sure this gets done. It’s good to clean the glass and rails every day before and after usage. For cleanup, here are a few tips learned by the professionals:
Clean Sneeze Guard with a Soft Cloth
Use a soft, clean cloth with food-safe glass cleaners, only. If a food-safe cleaner isn’t available, use mild soap and water to wipe down sneeze guards. Never use anything abrasive on the rails or glass; this can cause permanent damage.
Check Sneeze Guard Crews
Regularly check screws or brackets and tighten, gently, if needed. If you see signs of rust, you can replace the item.
Inspect Acrylic for Cracks
Inspect the glass for cracks, scratches or other damage that can cause problems.
Make sure the sneeze guard is at the proper tilt to protect the food. Readjust it, if needed. (Don’t make it too tight, you can crack it!)
Sneeze Guards Can be Stylish
Sneeze guards can be functional as well as stylish; if they clash with your restaurant’s decor or don’t fit into their surroundings, they may come across as garish.
When to Replace a Sneeze Guard?
Aesthetics & Sneeze Guards
Aesthetically, you will want all of your serving units and their sneeze guards to match. So when you convert your service options, you may want to start anew with a matching set. If you’ve renovated your restaurant or made changes to your menu, you may want to invest in new food guards. After all, a change in menus may require a change in heating components in a buffet. The lighting, heating, and serving portions of your buffet tables can be adapted to meet the needs of your changing operations. You’ll want to make sure that they all meet specifications for food, too.
The great news is that restaurants and other food service companies can choose from a variety of design options when it comes to sneeze guards and food guards, which often come with brackets. Most also are available in a variety of colors and offer different glass panel options as well as the option to add a design or logo. There are a lot of ways that sneeze guards and railings can be customised to your decor.
Sneeze Guard Requirements
Food shields, also referred to as sneeze guards, are glass or plastic barriers that protect prepared food from bacteria and other air-borne contaminants. Local health departments dictate the regulations that restaurants must follow regarding the use of food shields in their establishments. Virtually all self-service food bars and buffets were required to install and maintain suitable food shields. Now, post-Covid 19, it is likely to become mandatory for all food and drink outlets.
Types of Sneeze Guards
The next step is knowing what type of sneeze guard is best for your restaurant.
Collapsible Sneeze Guard
Portable Sneeze Guard & Display Case
Portable Open Back Sneeze Guard
This lightweight and portable sneeze guard made from 4.5mm clear acrylic will safely protect your food and product displays without compromising on style. Australian made from quality materials, our exclusive design sneeze guard features an angled top for maximum visibility, and is great for markets, festivals and trade shows, as well as counter tops in cafes, restaurants and coffee shops! Designed for protecting food displays, this handy design is also suitable as a general protective display case for all types of items.
Articles originally appeard on Michael’s Glass Co and Pac West Corp. Photos & images by Faulken Acrylic
