Food Safety Week: How Technology Is Changing Food Safety Management Across Healthcare, Corporate, and Education Dining

Foodservice operations are facing increasing pressure to strengthen documentation, manage allergens, maintain compliance, and do more with lean staffing models. As a result, many organizations are turning to digital food safety technologies that improve visibility, accountability, and operational efficiency.

Metz Culinary Management is at the forefront of this trend. At Dorminy Medical Center in Fitzgerald, Georgia, Metz recently implemented digital monitoring systems as part of a broader effort to enhance operational oversight, documentation, and efficiency within the hospital's dining services department. The initiative included the deployment of digital temperature monitoring tools that help staff verify food holding and preparation temperatures while streamlining compliance documentation.

"Food safety is not something that changes from one division to another," said Stephen Dalansky, Director of Loss Prevention & Safety Services at Metz Culinary Management. "Whether we are serving patients in a healthcare environment, students on a college campus, or guests in a corporate setting, we maintain the same high standards throughout our operations."

One of the company's key initiatives is the implementation of Temp-Taker™, a digital temperature monitoring system that is a company standard across all Metz locations. The system replaces handwritten temperature logs with automated digital records that include timestamps and reporting capabilities, helping teams verify that foods are prepared and held at proper temperatures.

Metz also utilizes environmental temperature monitoring systems that track conditions within coolers, freezers, hot holding equipment, and other storage areas, providing an additional layer of oversight for food safety operations. "Having accurate, traceable temperature data is a major advantage," Dalansky said. "The technology streamlines the process while improving documentation and accountability."

Training also plays a central role in the company's food safety efforts. Through a partnership with MenuTrinfo, Metz provides AllerTrain® allergen-awareness and cross-contact prevention training to team members across all divisions. The company also requires ServSafe® Manager and Food Handler certification programs through the National Restaurant Association.

In healthcare environments, Metz incorporates additional safeguards to support patients with specialized dietary needs, including texture-modified foods and therapeutic diets. Recent company-wide initiatives have also included enhanced auditing procedures, expanded allergen-management protocols, and additional operational checks designed to reinforce safe food handling practices.

"As foodservice operations continue to evolve, we remain committed to staying current with the latest food safety practices, training standards, and operational technologies that enable us to offer the highest level of service to our clients and guests," Dalansky said.