Food hygiene and safety

Food hygiene means preventing harmful bacteria from growing in food, by keeping the kitchen, appliances, tools and  yourself clean, as well as washing, cooking, preserving and storing food properly. This is also called food sanitation.

Reasons for Healthy Food Handing

To enjoy the nutritional benefits of foods.

Healthy food hygiene and safety, saves or spare family from illness or diseases.

It helps one to deserve the best from preparing food.

Food hygiene and safety practice may save lives.

Food hygiene and safety helps to preserve food quality etc.

Ways of Handling Foods for Safety

Wash cooking utensils, cutting boards and other surface thoroughly every time you prepare food hot. It is best to use hot soapy water.

Wash the top of cans such as canned milk, tomatoes, salad cream, corned beef etc. before opening them.

Wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly. When these are eaten raw, a little salt can be added to the washing water.

Use clean plate for cooked food.

Keep pets such as pussy cat and dogs out of the kitchen, etc.

EVALUATION

State the meaning of food hygiene.

Explain the meaning of food poisoning.

Mention five ways of handling food for safety

CAUSES AND SOURCES OF FOOD CONTAMINATION AND POISONING

The causes of food contamination and poisoning include:

Contamination of food by micro-organisms e.g. bacteria (Escherichia coli, salmonella), virus (noro-virus, rota- virus, sapo-virus etc.)

Parasites: they derive nourishment from their host, e.g. round worms, tape worms etc.

Toxins and contaminants: some bacteria produce toxin or poison outside their cells when they are growing and multiplying in food, these toxin are known as exotoxins; are poisonous chemicals are less easily destroyed by heating than the bacteria from which they come. Heating of food may kill bacteria, but the toxins may still survive an still cause food poison when the food is eaten.

Yeast: this is responsible for decomposition of food with high sugar content.

Allergens: food allergens are an abnormal response to food triggered by one’s body immune system.

Sources of Food Contamination and Poisoning

The major sources of food poisoning and contamination are:

Air

Dust

Sewage

Rodents

Flies

Dirty equipment

Insects

person

Sensory Signs of Spoilage and Causative Micro-organisms

Meaning of Food Spoilage

This is undesirable changes taking place in the food which eventually leads to its rejection. It can also be defined as the deterioration of the physical and chemical properties of food, making it unfit for consumption.

The signs of food spoilage include the following:

Unpleasant odour

Unpleasant taste

Unpleasant texture

Unpleasant colour

EVALUATION

State four causes of food poisoning

Mention five sources of food poisoning and contamination

Outline four signs of food spoilage.