Prevention of Foodborne Illnesses

PREVENTION OF FOODBORNE ILLNESSES

Strict federal, state, and local laws regulate the commercial production of food in the United States, and dairies, canneries, bakeries, and meatpacking plants are all subject to government inspection. Nevertheless, errors and accidents can and do occur, and illness can result. Most foodborne illnesses occur because of the ignorance orcarelessness of people who handle food. People can introduce pathogens to food, pre-vent them from reaching it, or kill them with appropriate cooking temperatures.

Cleanliness is especially important in preventing foodborne illness. When kitchen equipment such as a cutting board, meat grinder, or countertop is used for preparing pathogen-infected foods and not cleaned properly after-ward, noninfected food that is subsequently prepared with this equipment can become infected by the same pathogen(s). This is called cross-contamination. Dishes used to hold uncooked meat, poultry, fish, or eggs must always be washed before cooked foods are placed on them.

When food workers fail to wash their hands after blowing their noses or using the toilet, they can “share” their germs very easily. Mucus and feces are favorite breeding areas of pathogens.

Food workers who have even small cuts on their hands must wear gloves because a wound could carry a pathogen. Foods must be covered and stored properly to keep dust, insects, and animals from reaching and possibly con-taminating them. Water from unknown sources should not be used for cooking because it, too, can carry pathogens.

Temperatures during preparation and storage of food must be carefully observed. When infected foods are undercooked, the pathogen is not de-stroyed and can be passed to consumers (Table 10-2). Foods allowed to stand at temperatures between 40° and 140°F provide an ideal breeding place for pathogens (Figure 10-1).

Leftover food should always be refrigerated as soon as the meal is finished and covered when it is cold. It should not be allowed to cool to room temperature before it is refrigerated. Frozen food should be either cooked from the frozen state or thawed in the refrigerator. (When cooked from the frozen state, cooking time will generally increase by at least 50%.) Frozen food should not be thawed at room temperature. Food must always be protected from dust, insects, and animals.

Carriers are people (or animals) capable of transmitting infectious (disease-causing) organisms. Often the carrier suffers no effects from the organism and therefore is unaware of the danger she or he represents. Food workers should be tested regularly to confirm that they are not carriers of communicable diseases.

Selection of food should be made with great care. Packages and jars should be properly sealed. Cans should not bulge. Foods that look or smell at all unusual and foods showing signs of mold should be left in the store. Only pasteurized milk and dairy products should be used (Table 10-3).