Every fourth week of October, food safety awareness week is observed. This attempts to raise awareness of the value of good quality, safe and clean food. By virtue of Proclamation No. 160, which was issued in August 1999 and signed by President Joseph Estrada, this was declared.
Food safety is the practice of handling, preparing, and storing food in a way that minimizes the chance that people would contract a foodborne illness. More than 200 diseases, ranging from cancer to diarrhea, can be brought on by unsafe food that contains hazardous bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical chemicals. An estimated 600 million people, or approximately 1 in 10, get sick every year from eating unsafe food, which leads to 420 000 fatalities and the loss of 33 million years according to WHO.
Food security, nutrition, and safety are all interconnected. Unsafe food contributes to a vicious cycle of illness and malnutrition that disproportionately affects newborns, young children, the elderly, and the sick. WHO seeks to improve public health concerns connected with contaminated food at the national and international levels.
Production, processing, distribution, and consumption are all potential sources of contamination. In these stages of the prevention of foodborne infections, food handling is extremely important.
In order to avoid food becoming contaminated and resulting in food poisoning, several rules must be followed. This is accomplished in a variety of ways, some of which include:
- All surfaces, tools, and utensils must be well-cleaned and sanitized.
- Wash hands and surfaces often. After, before, during, and after food preparation as well as before eating.
- To eliminate dirt, wash fresh produce under running water.
- Avoid cross-contamination by separating raw items from dry and ready-to-eat goods, such as meat, poultry, shellfish, and eggs.
- Cook food to the proper temperature to guarantee that pathogenic bacteria are eliminated.
More than counting calories or selecting a balanced diet of nutrient-dense foods constitutes healthy eating. The finest healthy eating regimens also include safe food preparation, handling, and storage methods that lessen the risk of foodborne illness.
Written by: DMO II (PNFP) Pryce Manrique
Reference:
Australian Institute of Food Safety. (2019, August 19). What is Food Safety? Www.foodsafety.com.au. https://www.foodsafety.com.au/blog/what-is-food-safety
World Health Organization. (2022). World Health Organization. Who.int; World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA. (2019, April 26). Keep Food Safe. FoodSafety.gov. https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep-food-safe
CDC. (2018, April 19). Four Steps (Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill) to Food Safety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/keep-food-safe.html
