Barriers!
Our solution is to create barriers that will stop cross-contamination at all salad bars. It will stop food mixing into other food as well as the gathering of the food being just as efficient. We are trying to implement this product at schools because we want kids with allergies to feel comfortable at the salad bar without worrying about cross-contamination.
We have interviewed kids with allergies and they say that they feel uncomfortable sometimes around the salad bar because of cross-contamination. Also, about two students per class have an allergy. We know many kids as well as parents of kids with allergies feel uncomfortable based on articles and interviews. So far we have found no existing solutions related to our project.
We are prototyping the product and gong through different stages while prototyping. After each stage, we are talking with the lead person at the cafeteria to get his feedback because he knows the health codes. We are going to show data based before and after photos and interviews. We are also getting our materials from the Windward CREATE Studio which gives us students free access to their materials.
Food Barrier Design #1
Polycarbonate/plastic food barrier clamps onto the lip of the food pan, onto 3 sides to reduce food mixing and contamination at cafeteria salad bars.
Polycarbonate/plastic food barrier clamps onto the lip of the food pan, onto 3 sides to reduce food mixing and contamination at cafeteria salad bars.
Food Barrier Design #2
In this design, instead of clamps that can break, the food barriers simply slide onto the food pans. The slide is narrow, located on the bottom of the food barrier wall and slides onto the lip of the pan.
In this design, instead of clamps that can break, the food barriers simply slide onto the food pans. The slide is narrow, located on the bottom of the food barrier wall and slides onto the lip of the pan.
Food Barrier Design #3- FINAL SOLUTION
This acrylic design has evolved from design #1 and #2 based on the fact that food pans at salad bars sit extremely close to one another and we need to factor that into our updated design.
So, our new design has a thin acrylic T base that goes under 2 pans at once, instead of clamps that attach to individual salad bar pans or under pan slides that might be tough to slide under all pans. This food barrier is Free Standing and slightly higher.
Thus, this new design improves/reduces the chance of food mixing and cross contamination at school cafeteria food stations.
This acrylic design has evolved from design #1 and #2 based on the fact that food pans at salad bars sit extremely close to one another and we need to factor that into our updated design.
So, our new design has a thin acrylic T base that goes under 2 pans at once, instead of clamps that attach to individual salad bar pans or under pan slides that might be tough to slide under all pans. This food barrier is Free Standing and slightly higher.
Thus, this new design improves/reduces the chance of food mixing and cross contamination at school cafeteria food stations.