Kankakee County, IL – The Kankakee County Health Department has issued specific guidance for food establishments in response to the Boil Water Advisory affecting areas including Kankakee, Bradley, Bourbonnais, Grant Park, Manteno, Aroma Park, Limestone, University Park, and Green Garden.
The guidance, released Sunday night, outlines crucial precautions for food service facilities to ensure public health and safety. According to Keith Wonowski of the Kankakee County Health Department, food establishments should post health advisory signs and educate employees about emergency procedures.
Key guidelines include shutting off appliances that use tap water, discarding ice and beverages made with contaminated water, and using bottled or boiled water for food preparation and washing produce. Establishments are also advised to use disposable dishes and utensils where possible.
For hygiene, hand washing with soap and tap water followed by alcohol-based hand sanitizer is recommended. Dishwashing procedures include using commercial dishwashers that reach a specified temperature or a bleach solution for hand washing dishes.
The Health Department emphasizes that these measures are temporary until the boil water advisory is lifted. Once lifted, establishments should flush pipes, clean and sanitize water-using appliances, run water softeners through a regeneration cycle, flush hot water tanks, and replace and sanitize water filter cartridges. These steps are vital for returning to normal operations while ensuring the safety of both employees and customers.
