Coronavirus Update

Good day everyone. In the last week the CASI Board of Directors have been receiving questions and inquiries about the state of affairs concerning cookoffs. Because we are an international organization, we have to take into account the different situations and recommendations across the country. At this time, the recommendation from the Board of Directors is to adhere to your local community, county, state and federal guidelines that are being handed down.
With that being said below are some suggested best practices for upcoming cook offs. While these suggestions are little more time consuming, to err on the side of safety is never a bad idea. We thank you for understanding and help while the Board continues to assess the situation daily and, like all of you, learn to deal with unprecedented challenges not seen before in the history of CASI.
 
Recommendations:
Cookoff organizers/promoters are the parties who ultimately own each event and competition.  They will determine if their cook offs will still continue on the dates originally planned or move to a future date. CASI will work with any promoter/organization on their decision about how they choose to proceed.

• Have hand sanitizer readily available
• Have and use gloves when handling the chilis at any time- from turn in to announcements. Change gloves frequently and definitely between rounds.  The best option for any food prep situation, is disposable nitrile gloves.  While nitrile and latex gloves offer many of the same excellent features, latex has allergen risks. 
• DO NOT use communal condiments- celery, cheese carrots, etc.
• Use individual snack bags for your condiments so that each judge has their own.
• Purchase and use individual wrapped crackers
• Use individual snack bags for your spoons so that each judge has their own
• Recommend cooks bring hand washing stations. Two or three canopies could share. These are easy…it must have running water and a catch bucket. Big Lots and several other stores have plastic, two-gallon containers with a spigot.  They are fairly inexpensive.
• For beverages, do not use kegs, pitchers, individual drink cups. If at all possible, give individually bottled water or adult beverages.
• Do not use roll paper towels. Use individual napkins for each judge.
• Purchase individual hand wipes, (if you can find them) such as those that restaurants hand out and give to each judge.
• Look to your local health authority for any recommendations in your area.
• Visit the U.S. Center for Disease Control for tips on how to keep yourself safe at home, work, or other environments: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/workplace-school-  and-home-guidance.pdf
• Visit the World Health Organization for more information; particularly for our International members https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019