Food Safety Definition, Practices & Guidelines - Food Safety Lesson

Lesson Overview

• What Is Food Safety?
• Why Is Food Safety Important?
• What Makes Food Unsafe?
• What Are Common Germs in Food That Can Make You Sick?
• What Is Food Flow?
• How to Safely Thaw Frozen Foods
• What Is Cross-Contamination?
• How to Sanitize a Kitchen
• What Are the Steps to Prepare Food Safely?
• Why Is It Important to Keep Food Cold?
• How to Store Food Properly
• Food Label Laws and Regulations
• Global Standards for Ensuring Food Safety

What Is Food Safety?

Food safety is all about making sure the food we eat doesn't make us sick. It involves handling, storing, and preparing food in a way that keeps it safe from germs and chemicals that can harm our health.

When we talk about food safety, we mean doing things like washing hands, keeping the kitchen clean, cooking food thoroughly, and putting leftovers in the fridge quickly. These steps help keep our food safe and yummy to eat!

Why Is Food Safety Important?

Food safety is crucial because it directly impacts the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Ensuring that food is safe to eat is vital for several reasons:

• Preventing Foodborne Illnesses: One of the most important reasons for food safety is to prevent the occurrence of foodborne illnesses, which can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical substances. Each year, millions of people get sick from consuming contaminated foods, with symptoms ranging from mild gastroenteritis to more severe conditions like kidney failure or chronic health issues. Proper food safety practices help reduce the risk of such infections.

• Economic Impact: Foodborne diseases carry a significant economic burden due to lost productivity, healthcare costs, and even long-term disability and death. Safe food handling, preparation, and storage can minimize these economic impacts by reducing the number of foodborne illness cases.

• Consumer Confidence: Safe food practices ensure that consumers are confident in the food they eat. This confidence is crucial for the success of food businesses, such as restaurants and grocery stores. When food safety incidents occur, they can undermine public trust in certain brands or products, potentially leading to economic losses.

• Global Trade: Food safety is essential for maintaining and promoting international trade. Countries with strict food safety protocols are more likely to export their products internationally. Failure to meet food safety standards can result in trade restrictions or bans on affected products, which can have substantial economic consequences.

• Regulatory Compliance: Adhering to food safety laws and regulations is crucial for food businesses to operate legally. These regulations are designed to protect public health and ensure that all food products meet minimum safety standards before they reach the consumer.

• Nutritional Quality: Food safety also involves maintaining the nutritional quality of food. Safe handling and storage practices prevent food from becoming spoiled or contaminated with substances that can deplete its nutritional value.

What Makes Food Unsafe?

Several factors can turn our meals from nourishing to dangerous. Understanding these can help us prevent foodborne illnesses:

• Germs and Bacteria: Tiny, living organisms that can quickly multiply on food, especially when it's not stored or cooked properly. These germs are not visible to the eye but can cause illnesses if we consume them.
• Viruses: These are infectious agents much smaller than bacteria, and they need living hosts like humans to multiply. If someone with a virus handles food without proper hygiene, they can transfer the virus to the food.
• Chemicals: Sometimes, harmful substances can contaminate food. This might happen during the growing, processing, or cooking stages. For example, pesticides on fruits and vegetables or cleaning agents left on cooking surfaces can make food unsafe.
• Physical Objects: Occasionally, foreign objects like pieces of glass, metal from cans, or even plastic can end up in food during preparation or packaging. These are not only choking hazards but can also cause cuts or other injuries.

By being aware of these hazards, we can take steps to control them and ensure our food remains safe to eat.

Did you know? 💡

A single germ can multiply to over 8 million germs in just 24 hours under the right conditions.

What Are Common Germs in Food That Can Make You Sick?

By understanding these pathogens and the conditions they thrive under, we can better manage food safety practices like proper cooking, cleaning, and storage to protect ourselves and others from foodborne illnesses. Here are more details about the common germs that often lead to foodborne illnesses:

• Salmonella: This is one of the most common causes of food poisoning. It thrives in raw poultry and eggs but can contaminate any food that isn't cooked or handled properly. Symptoms of a Salmonella infection include fever, stomach cramps, and diarrhea, and they can last for several days.

• E. coli: This bacteria is normally found in the intestines of humans and animals. While most strains are harmless, some, like E. coli O157:H7, can cause severe food poisoning. It's commonly associated with undercooked ground beef and raw vegetables. Infections can lead to severe diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness, and pneumonia.

• Listeria: Listeria bacteria can grow at refrigeration temperatures, making it a particular concern for foods stored in the fridge. It's often found in unpasteurized dairy products, ready-to-eat deli meats, and smoked seafood. Infections can be very serious, leading to meningitis or pregnancy complications, including miscarriage.

• Norovirus: Often called the stomach flu, norovirus causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It's highly contagious and can spread through contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Take this Quiz on Food Safety-

What Is Food Flow?

Food flow describes the entire journey of food, from where it starts at farms or factories, all the way to our plates. This path includes several steps: growing or making, harvesting, processing, storing, transporting, selling, and finally, cooking and eating. Each step must be handled carefully to ensure the food stays safe and clean.

How to Keep Food Safe during Food Flow

To make sure our food is safe during its journey, we need to follow specific safety practices:

• At the Farm or Factory: It all starts with growing or making food in clean environments. Farmers use safe methods to grow crops and raise animals. Factories follow strict rules to keep everything clean and safe from contamination.

• Harvesting and Processing: Whether it's picking apples or packaging cookies, workers must use clean tools and wear protective clothing. This helps prevent germs and dirt from getting into our food.

• Transportation: Foods need to be transported in vehicles that keep them at the right temperature. For example, ice cream is kept in freezers, while fresh vegetables might be transported in a cool, ventilated area.

• In Stores: Grocery stores keep foods on clean shelves and in special sections like coolers and freezers to keep them fresh. They make sure to check dates and conditions of food regularly.
• At Home: Once we buy our food, it's important to store it properly. Refrigerating or freezing food right away, keeping raw meats separate from vegetables, and cooking foods to the right temperatures are all crucial steps.
• Preparation and Cooking: Before cooking, washing hands and kitchen surfaces is essential. Using different cutting boards for meats and vegetables helps avoid cross-contamination. Cooking foods to the correct internal temperature kills harmful germs.
  

How to Safely Thaw Frozen Foods

When we freeze food, it's a great way to keep it fresh for a long time. But when we want to eat it, thawing (or defrosting) needs to be done safely to keep harmful germs from growing. Here are safe ways to thaw your food:

• In the Refrigerator: The safest way to thaw food is in the fridge. Although it's slow, this method keeps food at a safe temperature during the entire thawing process. Plan ahead because this can take a day or more, depending on the size of the item.
• In Cold Water: If you need to thaw food more quickly, you can use cold water. Keep the food in a leak-proof bag and submerge it in cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes to keep it cold and ensure even thawing.

• In the Microwave: For the quickest thawing, you can use a microwave. Use the 'defrost' setting based on the weight of the food. Cook it immediately after thawing because some areas may begin to cook during the microwave defrosting process.
  

Never thaw food at room temperature, like on the countertop, because this can allow bacteria to grow rapidly at room temperatures.

Did you know? 💡

Aluminum foil doesn't actually kill bacteria; it just stops them from growing by blocking out oxygen!

Take this Quiz on Food Safety-

What Is Cross-Contamination?

Cross-contamination occurs when harmful bacteria or viruses are transferred from one food item to another. This usually happens through direct contact or via utensils, cutting boards, or even our hands. 

For example: 

If you chop lettuce on the same cutting board you just used for slicing raw chicken without cleaning it, bacteria from the raw chicken can move to the lettuce. Since the lettuce won't be cooked, those bacteria can make you very sick.

How to Avoid Cross-Contamination

Keeping foods separate and using good cleaning practices are key to preventing cross-contamination. Here's how you can protect your meals:

• Use Separate Cutting Boards: Have at least two cutting boards: one strictly for raw meats, poultry, and seafood, and another for ready-to-eat foods like breads and vegetables. This simple step keeps bacteria in raw meats from touching uncooked foods.
• Color-Coded Tools: To make it easier, use color-coded utensils, plates, and cutting boards. For example, red for raw meats and green for vegetables. This visually helps prevent the mix-up of use.

• Wash Hands Often: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling different types of food, especially after handling raw meat, poultry, or seafood.

• Keep Raw and Cooked Foods Separate: Store raw and cooked foods separately in the refrigerator. Use separate containers for raw meat and make sure it's stored at the bottom of the fridge to avoid drips on other foods.

• Thoroughly Clean All Surfaces: After preparing each food item and before moving on to the next, clean your knives, utensils, and cutting boards with hot, soapy water. Alternatively, you can sanitize them with a proper sanitizing solution to kill any lingering bacteria.

• Cook Foods to Safe Temperatures: Use a food thermometer to ensure foods are cooked to a temperature high enough to kill bacteria. Proper cooking can reduce the risk of illness from bacteria transferred during preparation.
  

Did you know? 💡

Honey is one of the only foods that never spoils, thanks to its low moisture content and natural acidity.

How to Sanitize a Kitchen

Sanitizing is the next step after cleaning and it involves using chemicals or heat to kill bacteria that might be left behind after cleaning. Here's how to do it effectively:

• Use the Right Sanitizers: You can use a bleach solution (1 tablespoon of unscented bleach in a gallon of water) to sanitize surfaces. Spray or wipe this solution on surfaces and let it stand for at least one minute before wiping it off with a clean cloth.
• Heat Sanitizing for Utensils and Cookware: Besides chemical sanitizers, you can also use hot water (at least 171°F) to sanitize dishes, utensils, and cookware. If you're using a dishwasher, use the sanitize cycle to ensure everything is properly cleaned.

• Sanitize Food-Contact Surfaces: Make sure to sanitize cutting boards, countertops, and other surfaces that come into direct contact with food. After cleaning with soapy water, apply a sanitizer and allow it to air dry to maximize its effectiveness against bacteria.

• Maintain Cleanliness of Towels and Sponges: Kitchen towels and sponges can harbor bacteria and spread them around. Wash kitchen towels regularly in hot water and replace sponges frequently. Consider using paper towels or disposable wipes for cleaning up surfaces that have come into contact with raw meat.

What Are the Steps to Prepare Food Safely?

Food preparation is not just about cooking; it's about keeping food safe from the start of cooking to serving. Here's how you can prepare food safely:

• Wash Hands and Surfaces Often: Always start with clean hands and kitchen surfaces. Use hot, soapy water to wash your hands, cutting boards, utensils, and countertops before and after handling food.
• Keep Raw and Cooked Foods Separate: Use separate cutting boards and plates for raw meat, poultry, and seafood. This prevents harmful bacteria from raw foods from spreading to ready-to-eat foods.

• Measure Cooking Temperatures: Use a food thermometer to make sure foods are cooked to the right temperature to kill any harmful bacteria. For example, poultry should be cooked to at least 165°F (74°C), and ground beef should be cooked to 160°F (71°C).

• Follow Recipes and Labels: Always follow cooking times and temperatures given in recipes or on food labels. This ensures that food reaches a safe temperature and is cooked evenly.
  

Cooking food to the right temperature is crucial to kill harmful bacteria that could make you sick. Using a food thermometer is the best way to make sure that your food has reached a safe internal temperature before you eat it. Here are some key temperatures to remember:

• Poultry (like chicken or turkey): Cook all poultry to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure all harmful bacteria are killed.
• Ground meats (like beef or pork): These should be cooked to at least 160°F (71°C).

• Steaks, roasts, and chops (such as beef, veal, lamb, and pork): Cook these to at least 145°F (63°C) and then let them rest for three minutes before carving or consuming.

• Fish: Should be cooked to 145°F (63°C), at which point it should be opaque and separate easily with a fork.

• Eggs and egg dishes: Eggs should be cooked until the yolk and white are firm; egg dishes like casseroles should be cooked to 160°F (71°C).
  

Take this Quiz on Food Safety-

Why Is It Important to Keep Food Cold?

Cold temperatures are just as important as hot ones when it comes to food safety. Keeping food cold prevents bacteria from growing, which can happen quickly if food is left out at room temperature. Here's why cold temperatures matter:

• Refrigeration: Refrigerators should be set to 40°F (4°C) or below. This slows down the growth of bacteria significantly, keeping your food safe for longer.
• Freezing: Freezers should be set to 0°F (-18°C) or below. Freezing food stops bacteria from growing altogether, although it doesn't kill bacteria already present.

• Rapid Cooling: After cooking, if you're not going to eat hot food within 2 hours, it's important to cool it quickly in the refrigerator to bring it down to a safe storage temperature. Divide large amounts of food into smaller, shallow containers to cool it faster.

How to Store Food Properly

Storing food correctly is key to keeping it fresh and safe to eat for as long as possible. Here's how to store different types of food effectively:

• Fruits and Vegetables: Most fruits and veggies do best in the refrigerator, kept in the produce drawer. However, some items like bananas, potatoes, and onions should be stored at room temperature, away from direct sunlight.
• Dairy Products: Milk, cheese, and yogurt should be stored in the coldest part of your refrigerator, not in the door, as temperatures can fluctuate there.

• Raw Meats, Poultry, and Seafood: These should be stored in the coldest part of the fridge, ideally in a separate drawer or on the lowest shelf to prevent their juices from dripping onto other foods.

• Dry Goods and Grains: Store rice, pasta, and cereals in a cool, dry pantry. Keep them in airtight containers to protect them from pests and moisture.

• Baked Goods: Bread and other baked goods can be kept at room temperature for a few days. For longer storage, freeze them and then thaw as needed.
  

Did you know? 💡

Chilling food within two hours after cooking can reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses, as it limits bacterial growth.

Food Label Laws and Regulations

Labeling laws are crucial for providing consumers with the information they need to make informed choices about the foods they consume. Here's what these laws typically cover:

• Ingredients: Food labels must clearly list all ingredients in descending order of weight. This helps consumers identify any substances they may want to avoid due to allergies or personal preferences.
• Allergens: Certain food allergens must be clearly indicated on food labels if they are present in the product. This is crucial for people with food allergies.

• Nutrition Information: Labels often must include nutritional information such as calorie count, amounts of fats, carbohydrates, proteins, and other important nutrients.

• Expiry Dates: These inform consumers about the expected shelf life of the product, helping them to consume it while it is still safe.

• Country of Origin: Knowing where a food product comes from can be important for consumers concerned about food safety standards and practices in different countries.

Global Standards for Ensuring Food Safety

Food safety is a global concern, and various standards have been developed to ensure that food products are safe wherever they are produced or consumed. Here are two major food safety standards:

• HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point): HACCP is a system used worldwide that focuses on identifying specific hazards and measures for their control to ensure the safety of food. It involves looking at every step of the food production process, from raw material collection, procurement, and handling, to manufacturing, distribution, and consumption of the finished product. The aim is to prevent hazards rather than inspecting finished products for the effects of those hazards.

• FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act): This U.S. law aims to ensure the U.S. food supply is safe by shifting the focus from responding to contamination to preventing it. FSMA is significant because it affects how foods are grown, harvested, processed, and transported. This law makes prevention a priority, requiring food producers to have plans in place to identify and manage food safety risks.

What Are HACCP Guidelines?

The Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system is a systematic approach to food safety that is used internationally. It focuses on preventing hazards that could cause foodborne illnesses by applying science-based controls, from raw material to finished products. Here are some key guidelines in the HACCP system:

1. Conduct a Hazard Analysis: Identify potential hazards that could occur in the food production process and determine where these hazards can be controlled. The focus is on hazards that are critical to food safety.
2. Determine Critical Control Points (CCPs): These are points in the process where the identified hazards can be effectively controlled. Deciding which steps in the process are critical for food safety is a major part of the HACCP plan.
3. Establish Critical Limits: For each CCP, establish critical limits that must be met to ensure each control point effectively controls potential hazards. These could be minimum cooking temperatures, maximum time limits for exposure at room temperature, etc.
4. Implement Monitoring Procedures: Develop procedures to monitor CCPs, which may include tasks like recording cooking times and temperatures, to ensure each CCP stays within its critical limit.
5. Establish Corrective Actions: Define actions to be taken when monitoring shows that a CCP is not within the established limits. The aim is to bring the process back under control before a deviation leads to a health hazard.
6. Implement Verification Procedures: Verify that the HACCP system is working effectively. This could include routine testing and confirmation that CCPs are under control.
7. Keep Records: Maintain documentation regarding all procedures and records appropriate to these principles and their application. This helps in proving that the food has been produced safely and allows for tracing back in the event of a food safety issue.
   

What Are FSMA Guidelines?

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) represents a shift from responding to food contamination to preventing it. FSMA guidelines are geared towards continuous improvement in food safety systems. Here are some important aspects of FSMA:

1. Preventive Controls: Facilities must establish and implement a written food safety plan that includes hazard analysis, preventive controls, and the oversight and management of preventive controls.
2. Produce Safety: The FSMA rules establish science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption.
3. Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP): Importers are required to ensure that their foreign suppliers of food for humans and animals meet U.S. safety standards.
4. Accredited Third-Party Certification: FSMA includes a program for the accreditation of third-party certification bodies to conduct food safety audits and issue certifications for foreign facilities and the foods they produce.
5. Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration: This involves having measures in place to protect the food supply from intentional contamination aimed at causing widespread harm to public health.
6. Sanitary Transportation: FSMA includes rules to ensure that foods are transported in a manner that does not cause them to become unsafe.
   

By adhering to these guidelines, the food industry can more effectively prevent food safety issues before they occur, ensuring that food products are safe from farm to table.

Take this Quiz on Food Safety-

As we wrap up our journey through the world of food safety, remember the wise words of Benjamin Franklin: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." This saying is at the heart of premier food safety. By learning the food safety rules, understanding the food safety definition, and engaging in food safety training, you are taking important steps to protect yourself and others from foodborne illnesses. Food safety law guides us to handle, prepare, and store food safely at all times. Always carry the lessons learned here with you, and let them guide you to make smarter, safer food choices every day!