public buildings/dishwashers where can I find information?

[steppemum]

Hi
We are a small church.
Before Covid we met in a community hall. The kitchen had china mugs and we served tea and coffee in them and washed them up. There was no dishwasher. I assume all the users of the community hall did the same, including the community drop in cafe they ran one afternoon per week.

We now have our own hall. We have started serving tea and coffee again, but in disposable cups, mainly due to Covid.
We would like to buy and use china cups, but I was talking about it with someone today and they said that they were sure that if you serve tea and coffee in a public building you need to use a dishwasher.

When we have an event (eg Christmas carol service) we would use disposables, because of numbers. But for the weekly cups of tea?
I know a lot of places that don't have a dishwasher, but that doesn't mean they are legal.

Google takes you to a rabbit warren of complex legislation.

Does anyone know where we can find the answer to this?
Fitting a dishwasher is not on the agenda, and we don't have space for it.
But using disposables is not very environmentally friendly!
Thanks

Can visitors bring their own mugs or rather than spend money on China cups and saucers buy reusable mugs instead and give them as a gift,

@FleasInMyKnees

Can visitors bring their own mugs or rather than spend money on China cups and saucers buy reusable mugs instead and give them as a gift,

no, not realistic. The regulars could, but we have visitors, and it is but nicer just to serve tea and coffee

Check in with your local council who have the responsibility for food hygiene, but I'm pretty sure it's nonsense and hot soapy water is all that's required.

But it must be legal rather than a local rule?
Does anyone know where we would find the legislation?

As I said, googling brings so much.

Just wondered if someone actually knew where to find it!

@steppemum

But it must be legal rather than a local rule? Does anyone know where we would find the legislation?

As I said, googling brings so much.

Just wondered if someone actually knew where to find it!

The council will know the legalities as well as any local regulations.

@steppemum

Hi We are a small church. Before Covid we met in a community hall. The kitchen had china mugs and we served tea and coffee in them and washed them up. There was no dishwasher. I assume all the users of the community hall did the same, including the community drop in cafe they ran one afternoon per week.

We now have our own hall. We have started serving tea and coffee again, but in disposable cups, mainly due to Covid.
We would like to buy and use china cups, but I was talking about it with someone today and they said that they were sure that if you serve tea and coffee in a public building you need to use a dishwasher.

When we have an event (eg Christmas carol service) we would use disposables, because of numbers. But for the weekly cups of tea?
I know a lot of places that don't have a dishwasher, but that doesn't mean they are legal.

Google takes you to a rabbit warren of complex legislation.

Does anyone know where we can find the answer to this?
Fitting a dishwasher is not on the agenda, and we don't have space for it.
But using disposables is not very environmentally friendly!
Thanks

Hello,

I am a food safety officer and I can confirm there is no legal requirement to have a dishwasher, in covid times or not!

Hot soapy water and a good scrub will do the trick.

As a previous poster has said, if you search your local councils food safety team they will be able to help with any other queries you may have.

Hello fellow food safety officer!

Just came onto post what @ERH29 said. No legal requirement for a dishwasher.

All the legislation says it that articles in contact with food (which cups are) are to be able to be cleaned and are to be cleaned at a frequency that is hygienic (paraphrasing!).

Thanks all.

I will contact the council to confirm, and go ahead and buy the mugs!