Key Findings on Restaurant Practices

For Public Health

At a glance

We research food safety policies and practices in restaurants, banquet facilities, schools, and other institutions. Explore summaries of key findings from our research.
Food worker holding plates with a kitchen in the background.

Restaurant practices

Food safety culture, sick workers, hand hygiene, and kitchen manager certification

wait staff in a circle huddle
Food Safety Culture
Learn what contributes to a strong food safety culture in restaurants.
Restaurant manager on the phone with a pen and folder.
Restaurants Can Manage Sick Workers to Help Prevent Outbreaks
Learn what restaurant managers can do when their food staff are sick.
Person washing their hands at a restaurant kitchen sink.
Food Worker Handwashing in Restaurants
Learn what restaurants can do to improve handwashing practices in food workers.
Kitchen manager with equipment and staff members working in the background.
Kitchen Manager Certification
Explore our findings and resources on certified kitchen managers.

Other practices

Graphic of a deli counter with a food worker and customer.
Retail Delis
Learn how retail delis can address gaps in food safety practices.
Inside of a restaurant walk-in cooler.
Date Marking and Restaurant Practices
Learn what food safety programs can do to improve date marking practices in restaurants.
Food workers in a kitchen. One has a large pan of food.
Food Cooling
Learn what restaurants and food programs can do to improve food cooling practices in restaurants.
Group of food workers
Safe Food Preparation
Learn what makes it easier or harder for restaurant workers do seven safe food-handling practices.
Restaurant chef cooking over a stove.
Restaurant Workers
Learn what restaurant managers and food-safety programs can do to improve food prep practices.
Several large covered food serving pans with heated burners underneath.
Clostridium perfringens Root Causes
Learn how to avoid the root causes of Clostridium perfringens outbreaks.

Foods linked to outbreaks

cooked chicken in a pan with a thermometer stuck inside it
Chicken Preparation
Learn what restaurant management and food safety programs can do to improve how they handle chicken.
Hands cracking open an egg over a bowl.
Egg Preparation
Learn what food programs and restaurants can do to reduce the spread of germs linked to eggs.
bunches of leafy greens
Leafy Vegetables
Learn what food safety programs and restaurants can do to ensure leafy vegetables are safe to eat.
Meat grinder with beef
Beef Grinding Records
Learn what restaurants and food safety programs can do to keep adequate records of beef grinding.
Grill with hamburger patties and a person holding tongs.
Ground Beef Preparation
Learn what restaurants and food safety programs can do to improve ground beef practices.
plate with patties of ground beef
Ground Beef Handling
Learn how restaurants and food programs can help prevent outbreaks linked to raw ground beef.
three tomatoes on a vine
Tomato Handling
Learn about safe food practices that could prevent outbreaks linked to tomatoes. 

Other findings

Restaurant server handing guests their meals.
Food Code Adoption
Learn about key Food Code provisions that may help lower rates of foodborne norovirus outbreaks.
Sign with A on it.
Inspection Practices and Outbreak Rates
Learn how restaurant inspection practices are linked with foodborne outbreaks.
Food worker holding a sign that says "Trained in Food Allergies"
Food Allergy Reactions
Learn what restaurants can do to prevent allergic reactions in their restaurant.
4 friends at a restaurant
Beliefs About Restaurant Meals
Explore our findings on the role of restaurant customers in preventing foodborne illness.
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Content Source
National Center for Environmental Health
About This Page
Published: May 15, 2024
Updated: August 19, 2026

This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.

Reviewed: August 19, 2026

The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.