British Sandwich Association issues new guidelines for hospitals caterers

New guidelines have been issued by the British Sandwich Association (BSA) for supplying ready-to-eat chilled foods, including sandwiches for feeding patients in hospitals and healthcare settings.

The guidelines, which are designed to minimise the risks from bacterial growth in the hot environments that exist in healthcare settings, include setting a maximum two-day shelf-life and restricting some of the ingredients used. There is also a requirement for clear and bold temperature labelling on packs. 

Jim Winship, director of the British Sandwich Association, commented: “While in most cases bacteria, such as Listeria Monocytogenes, do not represent a danger to public health, they can present a risk to vulnerable patients in high-risk categories, including pregnant women, newborn babies, those aged over 80 and those with suppressed immune systems, including those undergoing cancer treatment and transplants.

“This risk is accentuated by the high temperatures in hospitals and other healthcare settings as well as the time it can take for products to be delivered around wards.”