What is food hygiene?

Food hygiene, also known as food safety, is the set of practices that prevent food from becoming contaminated and causing food poisoning. Food can become contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites at any point in the food chain, from production to preparation to consumption.

Why is food hygiene important?

Food hygiene is important because it protects people from food poisoning. Food poisoning can cause a range of symptoms, from mild gastroenteritis to severe illness and even death. Food poisoning is especially dangerous for vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, infants and young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

The risks of poor food hygiene

Poor food hygiene can lead to a variety of foodborne illnesses, including:

• Salmonellosis
• Campylobacteriosis
• E. coli infection
• Listeriosis
• Noravirus infection
• Clostridium perfringens infection
• Staphylococcus aureus infection
• Hepatitis A virus infection

Symptoms of food poisoning can include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal cramps
• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches

In severe cases, food poisoning can lead to dehydration, hospitalization, and even death.

The benefits of good food hygiene

Good food hygiene can help to prevent food poisoning and keep people healthy. It can also help to:

• Reduce the risk of foodborne illness outbreaks
• Protect vulnerable groups from food poisoning
• Improve the quality and safety of food
• Boost public confidence in the food supply

How to practice good food hygiene

There are a number of things you can do to practice good food hygiene at home:

Kitchen cleanliness

• Keep your kitchen clean and tidy.
• Wash work surfaces, utensils, and chopping boards thoroughly after each use.
• Use separate chopping boards for raw meat and poultry, and other foods.
• Clean and disinfect your refrigerator regularly.

Personal hygiene

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling food, especially after using the toilet, handling raw meat or poultry, or blowing your nose.
• Keep your fingernails short and clean.
• Avoid touching your face when preparing food.

Food handling

• Avoid cross-contamination. This means preventing harmful bacteria from spreading from one food to another. For example, do not store raw meat or poultry next to other foods in the refrigerator.
• Cook food thoroughly. This will kill any harmful bacteria that may be present.
• Cool food quickly. This will prevent bacteria from growing.

Food storage

• Store food at the correct temperature. Most foods should be stored in the refrigerator at 4 degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit) or below.
• Do not refreeze food that has been thawed.

Food preparation

• Clean and disinfect all work surfaces, utensils, and chopping boards before preparing food.
• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them.
• Cook food thoroughly.

Food hygiene tips for specific foods

Meat and poultry

• Cook minced meat and poultry thoroughly until there is no pink meat remaining.
• Avoid washing raw meat or poultry, as this can spread harmful bacteria.

Seafood

• Cook seafood thoroughly until it is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
• Avoid eating raw or undercooked seafood.

Eggs

• Cook eggs thoroughly until the whites are solid and the yolks are firm.
• Avoid eating raw or undercooked eggs.

Fruits and vegetables

• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them.
• Peel fruits and vegetables that cannot be washed thoroughly, such as melons and avocados.

Food hygiene for vulnerable groups

Pregnant women

• Pregnant women should avoid eating raw or undercooked meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and unpasteurized milk and cheese.
• They should also wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them.

Infants and young children

• Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to food poisoning. Their immune systems are not fully developed, so they are more likely to become sick from foodborne illness.
• Parents and caregivers should take special care to practice good food hygiene when preparing food for infants and young children.
• They should avoid giving infants and young children raw or undercooked meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and unpasteurized milk and cheese.
• They should also wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before giving them to infants and young children.

Older adults

• Older adults are also at increased risk of food poisoning. This is because their immune systems may be weakened due to age or underlying health conditions.
• Older adults should take the same precautions as pregnant women and infants and young children to avoid food poisoning.

People with weakened immune systems

• People with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or diabetes, are also at increased risk of food poisoning.
• They should take the same precautions as pregnant women, infants and young children, and older adults to avoid food poisoning.

Food handlers

• Food handlers play an important role in preventing food poisoning. They have a responsibility to follow good food hygiene practices when handling food.
• Food handlers should wash their hands thoroughly before and after handling food, and especially after using the toilet, handling raw meat or poultry, or blowing their nose.
• They should also keep their fingernails short and clean.
• Food handlers should avoid touching their face when preparing food.
• Food handlers should cook food thoroughly and cool it quickly.
• They should also store food at the correct temperature.

Conclusion

Food hygiene is important for everyone, but it is especially important for vulnerable groups. By following good food hygiene practices, you can help to protect yourself and others from food poisoning.