Protect the Quality and Safety of Your Food1

I. The Importance of Food Safety
Fresh, clean food is important to good nutrition. Preventing food from becoming mouldy or spoiled reduces waste, and preventing food from becoming contaminated with food poisoning bacteria reduces losses and illnesses. Bacteria and mould in food can reduce the food's nutrient value and also cause disease.
Disease causing (or pathogenic) bacteria can contaminate food and water and cause food poisoning in the form of diseases such as typhoid, cholera and hepatitis. In some circumstances, mould growing on food can develop poisons known as mycotoxins, which can cause illness and sometimes even death. Internal parasites can be transmitted through food that has been contaminated with parasite eggs or cysts, and in some cases the infective stage of a parasite can be transmitted in foods such as meat and fish.
Bacteria, moulds and parasites can contaminate food in different ways:
• from the soil or water where it is grown;
• from handling at harvest, during processing or marketing, or during storage;
• by human or animal sewage from hands, flies, rats or other pests, or by contaminated air or water.
In many countries serious diseases such as cholera and typhoid are rare, although other types of food poisoning are common. Losses from food spoilage and contamination are also very common.
The symptoms of food poisoning commonly include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and fever, although not all of them may occur in every case. Symptoms vary depending upon the cause and usually start between one and 36 hours after eating the contaminated food and may last for several days. Food poisoning may be fatal, depending upon the cause and the overall fitness of the sick person.
Some bacteria, for example most salmonella bacteria, can increase in numbers in food very rapidly under some circumstances. Under conditions that favour their rapid growth, such as the right temperature, one bacterium can increase to 100 million bacteria within 9 hours. Even with such large numbers, they cannot be seen without the use of a microscope
Cross contamination of foods is a common cause of outbreaks of food poisoning. Food that is contaminated with large numbers of bacteria can be a source of contamination of other foods. This cross contamination of foods can happen when food contaminated by hands, flies or other insects or pests touches a clean food or when clean foods touch a contaminated surface or utensil.
The risk of food poisoning and of losses through spoilage can be greatly reduced if some basic rules are followed. These rules are designed to kill bacteria and moulds where possible, stop them increasing in numbers, and stop them being transferred or spread. They should be followed at all times and at all stages in food production, preparation, storage, marketing and serving. These rules will prevent food related illnesses and reduce the wastage of food.


II. Proper Storage and Handling of Foods
To keep food safe to eat it is important to follow these rules:
• Keep cupboards and storage areas clean, cool, and dry.
• Do not store food in containers that are used for other purposes. It is important not to store food in containers that have previously been used for chemicals.
• Keep food covered while it is being stored and keep it away from chemicals such as insecticides and household cleaners.
• Make sure the areas where food is prepared, all pots, pans and utensils such as knives, forks and spoons are clean before food is prepared. These items should be cleaned again afterwards.
• If fruit and vegetables look dirty, wash them in clean water before preparation for cooking. Fruit and vegetables that are to be eaten without being cooked should always be washed first in clean water.
• When washing pots, pans and utensils such as knives, forks and spoons, use hot water with soap or detergent, then rinse in clean water. Change washing and rinsing water often.
• Make sure the water used for cooking and washing is fresh and from a safe source.
It is important to remember that people, insects and other items can make clean things dirty again even though they still look clean. Therefore, it is important to:
• Wash your hands with soap and clean water before preparing or eating food.
• Avoid coughing or sneezing near food or touching your nose, mouth, hair or anything dirty while preparing food.
• Avoid preparing food if you are sick or if you have wounds or sores on your hands.
• Keep insects, pests, animals, birds, dust and fumes away from food.
Even in clean surroundings food will go bad over time. Food always has some bacteria on it and these will increase in number over time and cause spoilage or even illness. Therefore it is important to:
• Follow any storage instructions precisely on labels or packages.
• Do not keep food too long. Throw it away if it looks or smells bad or spoiled.
• Do not leave scraps of food around. Bacteria from scraps of food can spread quickly to nearby food.
Raw meat, poultry and fish require special care as they always have bacteria on their surface. Proper cooking will kill these bacteria and make the food safe. But it is important not to let raw meat, poultry or fish contaminate food that is already cooked or that is to be eaten raw.
• When handling raw food, wash your hands and everything else you use, including contact surfaces.
• Keep raw food separate from cooked food or food that is to be eaten raw.


III. Keeping Food at the Right Temperature
Keeping food in cold places slows bacterial growth. All perishable food, especially meat, poultry and fish, should be stored in a cold place.
Cooking food properly kills all or most bacteria and keeping foods sufficiently hot after cooking prevents most dangerous bacteria from growing. Meat and food items containing meat should always be thoroughly cooked. If meat or poultry is still red inside or if the juices still look bloody, it is undercooked and could still contain harmful germs. Eggs should also be well cooked. Foods that are cooked in water should be cooked in boiling water and remain in the water long enough to reach a temperature high enough to kill bacteria.
So far as possible, food should be eaten as soon as it is cooked. If food is uncooked or cold, it should be eaten as soon as it is taken out of cold storage. If it is not to be eaten straight away, food that is cooked or heated should either be kept hot until eaten or quickly cooled down and then stored in a cold place. Food should not be kept just warm or at room temperature, as these temperatures are ideal for the rapid growth of bacteria.
The best place to store most fresh food is in a refrigerator or freezer but if neither is available it should be stored in the coolest possible place. But remember food will spoil more quickly in a cool place than in a cold place.
Since bacteria need moisture to increase in numbers, dried food such as pulses, nuts, bread and uncooked grains are less of a risk and can be kept at room temperature.
Food sealed in tins can be kept at room temperature as long as they are not opened. Once they are, then the food should be eaten quickly or put in a clean covered container and stored in a cold place. Food should not be left in a tine once it has been opened.


IV. Caring for Children
Healthy and well-nourished children are usually not affected by most bacteria. However, eating contaminated or unsafe food can quickly cause serious illness. If children are undernourished or weakened by other causes, their resistance is lowered and there is an increased risk that they will become sick from disease-causing bacteria. Extra precautions should be taken with the food of young, undernourished or sick children.
Young children like to put things in their mouth. They should be discouraged from doing this with harmful things. Children should be taught how to handle food safely and encouraged to adopt good personal hygiene habits.
It is essential that clean water is used for the preparation of breast milk substitutes and weaning food. Boiling the water used for these purposes and ensuring all utensils are clean reduce the risk of sickness.


V. Cooking for Others
Extra care is required when cooking food in large quantities, especially in school canteens or cafeterias. Large outbreaks of food poisoning can occur if the above-mentioned basic rules are not followed.
While it is more difficult to follow all the rules for food being sold by street vendors or from temporary stalls, they are just as important. All rules should be obeyed, particularly the following:
• Keep all pots, pans, containers and utensils such as knives and spoons clean.
• Keep all food preparation areas clean, and avoid contact, even indirect contact, between cooked food and raw food.
• If cooked food is not eaten quickly, cool it and store it at a cold temperature.