FOOD RISKS Tick the actions which you think might contaminate food. Touching your eyes, mouth, ears, nose or hair Smoking Using the toilet Sneezing and coughing Using a tissue or handkerchief Handling raw food Taking out the trash Touching a pet or animal Touching any dirt surfaces How many actions have you ticked? All of them, hopefully! Anyway, the more you have ticked, the better your knowledge of food safety is. as: because food-borne: caused by food handling: treatment processing: treating sanitation: hygiene shared: common WHAT IS FOOD SAFETY? Ensuring the safety of food is a shared responsibility among producers, industry, government and consumers. Food safety involves the safe handling of food from the time it is grown, packaged, distributed and prepared to prevent food-borne illnesses. Safe food is food that is free not only from toxins, pesticides, chemical and physical contaminants, but also from microbiological pathogens such as bacteria, parasites and viruses that can cause illness. Everyone involved in food production, food processing, food preparation and food service must have essential information about basic microbiology, how food becomes contaminated and the importance of personal hygiene and good work habits. Workers who understand why food sanitation is so important are more likely to use safe practices. A food handler is anyone who works in a food business and who either handles food or surfaces that are likely to be in contact with food. Food handlers have specific responsibilities related to their health and hygiene and for doing whatever possible to make sure that they do not make food unsafe or unsuitable to eat. They must wear clean outer clothing, not eat, smoke, sneeze, blow or cough over unprotected food. They must wash their hands before they start handling food, immediately after smoking, coughing, sneezing, using a handkerchief, eating, drinking, smoking and using the toilet. These standards of sanitation are just as important and valid in home kitchens as most cases of food-borne illnesses actually begin at home. Food contact materials Our food may be exposed to contaminants while being cooked, prepared, packed or stored. Packaging for instance, plays a critical role to protect food against contamination and is essential to maximize shelf life. Yet, these materials must be safe. Their safety relies on ensuring that no release of chemical substances occurs in unsafe levels from materials involved in the food processing chain, packaging or kitchenware into the food. 230 Module 6 ELEMENTS 2