Devices for safe handling of food and methods therefor

Abstract

A device for safe handling of food comprises a dispenser assembly having an animal-shaped configuration. The dispenser assembly is provided with a plurality of antimicrobial wipes and at least a portion of the dispenser assembly is adapted to be located in a food handling area. The plurality of antimicrobial wipes of the dispenser assembly both facilitate and permit hygienic handling of an animal food product of the type represented by the animal-shaped configuration of the dispenser assembly by using at least one of the plurality of wipes that is retrieved from the dispenser assembly. The animal-shaped configuration of the dispenser assembly is at least one of a chicken, a turkey, a pig, a cow, a lamb and a fish. A safety message is coupled to a portion of the dispenser assembly, thereby inviting a person to practice hygiene after handling the animal food product.

1 . A device for safe handling of food, comprising in combination: a dispenser assembly having an animal-shaped configuration provided with a plurality of antimicrobial wipes, at least a portion of said dispenser assembly having said animal-shaped configuration adapted to be located in a food handling area, said plurality of antimicrobial wipes of said dispenser assembly both facilitating and permitting hygienic handling of an animal food product of the type represented by said animal-shaped configuration of said dispenser assembly by using at least one of said plurality of wipes that is retrieved from said dispenser assembly.  
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1  further comprising at least a portion of said dispenser assembly having said animal-shaped configuration impregnated with an antimicrobial thereby improving hygienic handling of said animal food product when said portion of said dispenser assembly is touched.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein said animal-shaped configuration of said dispenser assembly is at least one of a chicken, a turkey, a pig, a cow, a lamb and a fish.  
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 2  wherein said animal-shaped configuration of said dispenser assembly impregnated with said antimicrobial is at least one of a chicken, a turkey, a pig, a cow, a lamb and a fish.  
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of said plurality of wipes is impregnated with an antimicrobial selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium halides, cationic bisbiguanides, chlorinated phenolic derivatives, complexes of iodine with polyvinyl pyrrolidine, ethanol and propyl alcohol solutions in water, and triclosans.  
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 2  wherein a portion of said dispenser assembly having said animal-shaped configuration is impregnated with an antimicrobial selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium halides, cationic bisbiguanides, chlorinated phenolic derivatives, complexes of iodine with polyvinyl pyrrolidine, ethanol and propyl alcohol solutions in water, and triclosans.  
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 6  wherein said dispenser assembly having said animal-shaped configuration comprises a plastic impregnated with said antimicrobial.  
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 1  further comprising a safety message coupled to a portion of said dispenser assembly having said animal-shaped configuration thereby inviting a person to practice hygiene after handling said animal food product.  
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 1  further comprising a portion of said dispenser assembly having said animal-shaped configuration adapted for access to an interior portion of said dispenser assembly to permit restocking of said plurality of antimicrobial wipes.  
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 1  further comprising a portion of said dispenser assembly having said animal-shaped configuration adapted for access to an interior portion of said dispenser assembly to permit retrieving of at least one of said plurality of antimicrobial wipes.  
   
   
       11 . A device for safe handling of food, comprising in combination: a dispenser assembly including a housing having an animal-shaped configuration and a dispenser provided with a plurality of antimicrobial wipes, at least a portion of said housing having said animal-shaped configuration adapted to be located in a food handling area, said plurality of antimicrobial wipes of said dispenser both facilitating and permitting hygienic handling of an animal food product of the type represented by said animal-shaped configuration of said housing by using at least one of said plurality of wipes that is retrieved from said dispenser.  
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 11  further comprising at least a portion of said housing having said animal-shaped configuration impregnated with an antimicrobial thereby improving hygienic handling of said animal food product when said portion of said housing is touched by a person retrieving at least one of said plurality of wipes from said dispenser.  
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein said animal-shaped configuration of said housing is at least one of a chicken, a turkey, a pig, a cow, a lamb and a fish.  
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 12  wherein said animal-shaped configuration of said housing impregnated with said antimicrobial is at least one of a chicken, a turkey, a pig, a cow, a lamb and a fish.  
   
   
       15 . A method of practicing hygiene while using a device for safe handling of food comprising the steps of: 
 providing a dispenser assembly having an animal-shaped configuration having a plurality of antimicrobial wipes;    providing at least a portion of said dispenser assembly having said animal-shaped configuration adapted to be located in a food handling area; and    retrieving at least one of said plurality of wipes from said dispenser assembly, said plurality of antimicrobial wipes of said dispenser assembly both facilitating and permitting hygienic handling of an animal food product of the type represented by said animal-shaped configuration of said dispenser assembly.    
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least a portion of said dispenser assembly having said animal-shaped configuration impregnated with an antimicrobial thereby improving hygienic handling of said animal food product;    touching said portion of said dispenser assembly; and    retrieving at least one of said plurality of wipes from said dispenser assembly.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a safety message coupled to a portion of said dispenser assembly having said animal-shaped configuration thereby inviting a person to practice hygiene after handling said animal food product;    adapting a portion of said dispenser assembly for access to an interior portion of said dispenser assembly to permit restocking of said plurality of antimicrobial wipes; and    adapting a portion of said dispenser assembly for access to an interior portion of said dispenser assembly to permit retrieving of at least one of said plurality of antimicrobial wipes.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17  further comprising the steps of: 
 opening an upper portion of said dispenser assembly having said animal-shaped configuration; and    retrieving at least one of said plurality of wipes from said dispenser assembly after handling said animal food product of the type represented by said animal-shaped configuration of said dispenser assembly.