Food hygiene and preparation

1. FOOD HYGIENE

Food hygiene is the prevention of harmful bacteria from growing in the food by keeping the kitchen clean as well as washing, cooking and storing food properly. Food hygiene are the conditions and measures necessary to ensure the safety of food from production to consumption. Food can become contaminated at any point during slaughtering or harvesting, processing, storage, distribution, transportation and preparation. Food hygiene is important because harmful bacteria can grow in food and spread food-borne disease such as typhoid and botulism.

GUIDELINES FOR FOOD HYGIENE

1. Wash cooking utensils and surfaces with hot soapy water every time you prepare food
2. Wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly with a little salt water
3. Wash the tops of can foods such as sardine and evaporated milk before opening them
4. Use clean plate for cooked food
5. Keep pests such as dogs and cats out of the kitchen
6. Wash your hands after using the toilet and before you handle food
7. Cover your hair when in the kitchen so as to keep hair out of food
8. Store perishable food (meat, fresh fish) in the freezer
9. Once food is cooked, keep it hot until it is eaten
10. Store leftover food in the refrigerator

GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL COOKING AND SERVING OF MEALS

As you get ready to cook, there are certain procedures you have to follow these are:

1. Plan how to cook balanced meals
2. List all the ingredients required and use food in season
3. Clean all the utensils
4. Make yourself clean and ready for work by:

• Your hair must be covered with a clean scarf
• Wear a clean apron
• Wash your hands thoroughly
• Avoid sneezing into the food
• Cook food by the best method in order to have maximum retention of nutrients cooking includes:

1. boiling: i.e. cooking food in boiling water e.g yam
2. steaming: i.e. cooking food in the steam not boiling water
3. frying: cooking food in hot oil e.g akara

• Tidy up the kitchen after cooking

ASSESSMENT

1. Define Food Hygiene?
2. List FIVE guidelines for Food Hygiene?