What is one piece of equipment every food establishment needs to ensure cooked safely?

One piece of equipment every food establishment needs to ensure cooked food safety is a food thermometer.

Here's why:

* Accurate Temperature Measurement: Food thermometers allow staff to accurately measure the internal temperature of cooked food. This is crucial for ensuring that food has reached the minimum safe internal temperature to kill harmful bacteria.

* Preventing Foodborne Illness: Incorrectly cooked food is a major cause of foodborne illness. Using a thermometer ensures food is cooked to the appropriate temperature, significantly reducing the risk of illness.

* Meeting Regulations: Most food safety regulations require the use of food thermometers to verify proper cooking temperatures.

While other equipment plays a role in food safety (like refrigeration and sanitation equipment), the food thermometer is essential for directly measuring the critical factor of internal temperature.