Food safety is crucial to protecting and elevating human health. We all are well-versed with the downsides of contaminated food and how it causes a plethora of health issues that can easily turn into chronic issues with long-term complications.
So, we have curated this guide to provide you with all the details of food safety principles and how they play a pivotal role in the prevention of life-threatening diseases.
So, without any further delay, let’s dive right into the basics of food safety principles for the essential safety of the food that provides us both energy and nourishment for optimum growth.
Top 4 Food Safety Principles To Follow
As per WHO, every 1 in 10 people around the globe falls sick due to contaminated food every year leading to significant death counts. Given below are the top food safety principles that impart high productivity and promote a healthy lifestyle in the best way.
1. Hygiene And Cleanliness
Proper hygiene and cleanliness are the foundation of the food safety domain. By keeping everything clean, you can prevent the spread of harmful germs that can make people sick. It is not about keeping your hands clean only, you have to keep everything clean that includes, the whole kitchen environment, utensils, surfaces, etc.
When you are handling the food items, make sure that your hands are clean properly. In case you are sick, then avoid handling the food items to avoid spreading the germs to others.
When you clean things, you can use a solution of water and soap to clean them. Always dry your hands by scrubbing them with a dry towel. Maintaining proper hygiene and cleanliness in the whole kitchen will reduce the chance of spreading the germs into your food items.
2. Prevent Cross-Contamination
Cross-contamination is another vital aspect that you need to consider when it comes to food safety. Cross-contamination prevention is an essential practice that prevents the spreading of germs between different food items. By proper prevention, you can reduce the chance of foodborne diseases.
Keeping raw materials, eggs, and poultry separate from food items like cooked dishes, fruits, and vegetables is an important step to prevent cross-contamination. Always use different cutting boards for different food types to avoid any transfer of germs into different categories. You can use color codes for the boards for better understanding and usage.
Moreover, you should carry out a proper cleaning of raw materials to reduce the chance of germs spreading in the whole kitchen.
3. Safe Cooking
Safe cooking practices play a vital role in food safety. Ensuring that food reaches and maintains a safe internal temperature during cooking is crucial to eliminating harmful bacteria and preventing illnesses. You have to remember that different items of food have a specific temperature requirement for proper cooking.
Let us understand this with the help of an example. When it comes to cooking poultry, it should reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F or 74°C, while when you are cooking ground meats, the food item should reach a temperature of 160°F 71°C.
Using a food thermometer, avoiding cross-contamination, and practicing good hygiene contribute to safe cooking. Thoroughly cooked foods not only enhance their taste and texture but also protect consumers from the risks associated with consuming undercooked or contaminated dishes.
4. Proper Temperature Control
Proper temperature control is a fundamental principle in ensuring food safety. Maintaining consistent and appropriate temperatures at various stages of food handling, from storage to preparation and serving, is critical to preventing the growth of harmful bacteria.
Cold storage helps preserve perishable items while cooking at high temperatures ensures pathogens are eliminated from the items. Refrigeration temperatures below 4oC or 40oF inhibit bacterial growth, and hot foods should be kept above 60oC or 140oF.
Adhering to these temperature guidelines minimizes the risk of foodborne illnesses, safeguarding the health of consumers and upholding essential food safety standards.
The Bottom Line
By now, you must have understood all the key principles that help in maintaining your food’s integrity and provide a strong foundation for good health. It is time to follow these principles wholeheartedly at personal as well as organizational levels to promote the well-being of your loved ones.
Quickly implement these simple principles with stern actions in case of non-adherence so that there are no issues.
Article and permission to publish here provided by Keith Waller. Originally written for Supply Chain Game Changer and published on February 8, 2024.
Cover photo by Walter Otto on Unsplash.