Day Dots _ FOOD SAFETY LABELS Importance of Stock Rotation SFBB Training UK

### **Day Dots & Food Safety Labels: Importance of Stock Rotation (SFBB Training UK)**

In food safety, **Day Dots** and **food safety labels** play a crucial role in ensuring proper stock rotation and preventing food spoilage or contamination. These tools are essential components of the **Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB)** system, helping restaurants and food businesses comply with UK food hygiene regulations.

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### **What Are Day Dots and Food Safety Labels?**
- **Day Dots**: Color-coded stickers used to indicate the preparation or expiration date of food items, often corresponding to specific days of the week.
- **Food Safety Labels**: Labels that include information like preparation date, use-by date, storage instructions, and allergens.

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### **Why Are They Important?**
1. **Prevent Food Waste**: Proper labeling ensures older stock is used before newer stock, reducing food waste.
2. **Ensure Food Safety**: Helps avoid serving expired or spoiled food, which can cause foodborne illnesses.
3. **Support Legal Compliance**: Food businesses are legally required to store, handle, and serve food safely, and labeling helps meet these obligations.
4. **Simplify Operations**: Makes it easier for staff to identify which items need to be used, reducing errors during busy service periods.

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### **What Is Stock Rotation?**
Stock rotation ensures that food is used in the correct order to minimize waste and maximize safety. The two main principles are:
1. **FIFO (First In, First Out)**: Use older stock first before newer stock.
2. **FEFO (First Expired, First Out)**: Use items closest to their use-by date first.

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### **How to Use Day Dots and Labels for Stock Rotation**

#### **1. Label Every Item**
- Use Day Dots or labels to mark all food items with:
- **Date of Preparation**
- **Use-By Date** (based on food type and storage conditions)
- **Allergen Information** (for compliance with Natasha’s Law)
- **Initials of the Preparer** (optional for accountability)

#### **2. Store Items Correctly**
- Arrange food in **order of use**: Older items at the front, newer items at the back.
- Use **clear containers** so labels are visible and easily identifiable.

#### **3. Follow a Clear Colour System**
- Day Dots use a standardized color scheme to correspond with each day of the week. For example:
- **Monday**: Blue
- **Tuesday**: Yellow
- **Wednesday**: Red
- (And so on, depending on the supplier’s system.)
This makes it easy for staff to quickly identify items by preparation date.

#### **4. Discard Expired Items**
- Train staff to regularly check food labels and discard anything past its **use-by date** or that shows signs of spoilage.
- Include this check as part of daily closing routines.

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### **SFBB Guidelines for Stock Rotation**

The **Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB)** pack provides detailed guidance for stock rotation, including:
1. **Chilling and Storage**:
- Keep chilled food below **5°C** and frozen food at **-18°C** or lower.
- Label food stored in fridges or freezers with the correct dates.

2. **Preparation and Use**:
- Cook and prepare food only in quantities that can be used within the recommended shelf life.
- Clearly mark items that need to be discarded after a single use or at the end of the day.

3. **Monitoring and Records**:
- Maintain **daily logs** to track stock rotation and ensure compliance during inspections.
- Record checks of storage temperatures and stock conditions.

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### **Training Staff on Stock Rotation**
1. **Day Dot System Training**:
- Teach staff how to use and interpret Day Dots or food labels.
- Emphasize the importance of using older stock first and discarding expired items.

2. **Regular Reviews**:
- Supervisors should monitor stock rotation practices and provide feedback.

3. **SFBB Integration**:
- Include stock rotation and labeling as part of staff induction and ongoing food hygiene training.

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### **Benefits of Effective Stock Rotation**
- Reduces food waste, saving money.
- Improves efficiency in food preparation and service.
- Increases customer trust by ensuring food safety.
- Helps achieve and maintain a **5-star food hygiene rating** during inspections.

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Would you like help creating a **custom stock rotation log** or advice on implementing Day Dots in your operation?