When our food or food handling practices make us ill. Food Poisoning

What is food poisoning? Food poisoning is a serious health problem caused by poor personal hygiene on the part of: Food handlers Poor storage of food, or Cross contamination – indirect contamination of food caused by contact with a raw food or non food sources such as clothers, cutting boards or knives.

Symptoms? Vomiting Diarrhoea Stomach cramps. Those with serious health problems, young children and the elderly, food poisoning can result in death.

Activity With a partner develop a list of 4 rules to follow in order to prevent food poisoning. Explain why this is an important rule! Personally, answer the following in your workbook (reverse of a printed page!) ‘ When in the kitchen, I need to improve my personal hygiene practices by......”

With a partner develop a list of 4 rules to follow in order to prevent food poisoning. Explain why this is an important rule! RuleWhy? Wash Hands before handling food To remove bacteria from hands. Use food only till use by dateHigher likely hood of illness incurring after due date. Use a spoon to taste foodAvoid cross contamination of bacteria being passed into the food. Keep refrigerated items in fridge To keep found stored safely as required to prevent bacterial growth. Clean up before you startRemove any previous bacteria Stack food correctly in fridgeAvoid cross contamination, and food requires different coldness to prevent bacterial growth. Always use a clean knifePrevent cross contamination between ingredients.

How do bacteria grow? Food poisoning bacteria can grow and multiply very quickly in the right conditions. The following factors can affect the growth of bacteria: Time Temperature Food Moisture Oxygen Acidity pH level. Good exam question!

Did you know? Over 5 million cases of food poisoning could be avoided in Australia each year if all food handlers followed three simple steps: 1. Control temperature 2. Kill harmful bacteria 3. Prevent Cross Contamination.

Conditions for the growth of bacteria Food Food contains the nutrients that bacteria needs to grow. Oxygen Bacteria need oxygen to survive Acidity (pH) Low acid foods provide the best environment for bacteria Moisture A moist environment will promote bacteria growth Temperature Bacteria do not like to be hot or cold. Time One bacterium can multiply to become 17 million in 8 hours.

Step 1: Control Temperature

Activities. Develop a list of foods that are likely to be cooled and then reheated: In the school kitchen At home. Look at the list of foods that you have developed. Use you knowledge of food groups and suggest the types of foods that are potentially hazardous. Make a list of safe ways to rapidly cool food. Reheating foods also increases the risk of bacteria. Food poisoning bacteria start multiplying when chilled food is reheated at 5.c At what temperature will bacteria multiply?

Foods - danger School kitchenDomestic (Home) kitchen Sausage rolls *Cheese – toasted ( PastasLeft over pizza * SoupMince * Chicken, steak, mince *Soup Potato chipsRice * ButterCurries * Pizza *Puddings * Potentially high risk food

Step 2: Kill harmful bacteria In order to kill harmful bacteria it is important to cook food properly. When cooking meat products like: Chicken Mince Meat with bones Hamburgers Stuffed meats Sausages It is important that they are thoroughly cooked and that the meat juices run clear.

Step 3: Prevent Cross Contamination Bacteria can spread if raw meat or poultry touches or drips onto ready-to-eat foods. This is dangerous because ready to eat foods often receive no further cooking, therefore the bacteria is not killed. To prevent cross contamination it is important to: Separate raw and cooked foods. Store raw foods covered at the bottom of the fridge Keep the kitchen utensils clean Wash hands with soap, rinse and dry thoroughly before and after preparing raw food.

Let’s Review Explain how food poisoning occurs. What are the symptoms of food poisoning? Who is most at risk of these symptoms? List the conditions required for the growth of bacteria. Suggest and explain 3 ways that food poisoning can be prevented. What is the temperature zone? How can this be an issue for the growth of bacteria? Good exam questions!