What is food safety and why do we have to cook safe? Many people around the world are affected by foodborne illnesses; Most susceptible to foodborne diseases are children and the elderly. The information bellow tends to give some tips to avoid some of the related health hazards in food.
We all love food, but we are not always aware of the potential harm it can cause when it is contaminated. Foodborne diseases start from the ingestion of contaminated food or water with pathogenic agents – Bacteria, viruses, parasites, and toxins. Many people around the world are affected. Most susceptible to foodborne illnesses are children and the elderly. The information below tends to give some tips to avoid some of the related illnesses to food. The classifications below are for general guidance only
Challenges of Foodborne Illnesses
Foodborne illness has been always at all levels – industrial and consumers. Food who is likely to be more contaminated is a potentially hazardous food and ready-to-eat food. Foods that present a hazard to the consumer if not handled properly are:
1- Milk and milk products
2- Shell eggs
3- Meat and poultry
4- Fish and Shellfish
5- Tofu
6- Soy protein foods
7- Garlic and oil mixture (botulism)
8- Backed or baked potatoes
9- Cooked Vegetables
10- Gravies
12- Sliced Melons
How the Food Becomes Contaminated
One example of how foods get contaminated is by cross-contamination. Cross-contamination is very serious in the food industry, even at home. Examples for cross-contamination:
1-Unwashed hands that touch raw food and cooked or ready-to-eat food
2- Uncleaned food surfaces that
3- Unclean cleaning cloths
4- Food handler carrier of a harmful pathogen (hepatitis A or staphylococcus aureus)
5- Contaminated food dripping on other food in the fridge
The list is very big for cross-contamination, and the above is only an example.
Food Safety & Potential Bacteria
Many different bacteria can cause gastroenteritis including Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Shigella dysenteriae, Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia enterocolitica.
Food Safety & Potential Viruses
Many different viruses can cause viral gastroenteritis, including adenoviruses, coronaviruses, rotaviruses, parvoviruses, caliciviruses, and astroviruses. Those viruses most commonly associated with foodborne outbreaks are norovirus and hepatitis A.
Food Safety & Potential Parasites
Some parasites are also related to foodborne illnesses. Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia are some of the parasites causing gastroenteritis.
Be Informed to be Safe
