When should a thermometer be calibrated?

A thermometer should be calibrated after being dropped or bumped to ensure its accuracy. Calibration is a critical process that ensures the thermometer provides precise readings, which is essential for food safety and health compliance. When a thermometer is jarred or subjected to impact, its internal components can be disrupted, potentially leading to incorrect temperature readings. Regularly checking and recalibrating after such incidents helps maintain the reliability of the thermometer, ensuring that it can accurately assess temperatures in food safety applications.

While it is also important to calibrate a thermometer before it is put into use, that alone does not cover situations where the device may become inaccurate during its operational lifecycle. Regular calibration, especially following physical disturbances, is essential for ongoing accuracy and should be part of standard operating procedures in health departments and food safety environments.