Sanitation in the Food Industry
Keep your kitchen clean and safe from bacteria
What is Sanitation?
Sanitation is providing healthy cleanliness. It is important because a lack of sanitation and hygiene causes a range of health and environmental problems such as cross-contamination & food poisoning.
What is Cross-Contamination?
The dictionary definition of Cross-Contamination is: the process by which bacteria or other microorganisms are unintentionally transferred from one substance or object to another, with harmful effect. In more simple terms, it is the transfer of bacteria from raw food, unclean utensils or unclean surfaces to ready to eat food, clean utensils or clean surfaces. For example, cross contamination can happen when cutting raw chicken and vegetables on the same cutting board or/and with the same knife.
What is Food Poisoning?
Food poisoning, also referred to as food borne illness, is an illness caused by eating contaminated food. Infectious organisms - including bacteria, viruses and parasites- or their toxins are the most common causes of food poisoning.
Infectious organisms or their toxins can contaminate food at any point of processing or production. Contamination can also occur at home if food is incorrectly handled or cooked.
What is Bacteria?
To put in more simpler terms, bacteria is germs. Bacteria needs three things to grow:
- Food
- Warmth
- Moisture
How to Prevent Cross-Contamination & Food Poisoning
Here are some ways to prevent cross-contamination and food poisoning:
1) Keep raw meat and vegetables separate
2)Use clean tools and utensils
3)Wash your hands frequently
4)Keep your fridge organized with covering objects and separating food groups
5)Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold (keep foods out of the danger zone. The danger zone is the temperature range where bacteria multiply most rapidly '4°C-60°C')
6)Thaw foods properly by:
- In the refrigerator
- Under cold water
- Microwave
- On the counter
- In hot water
Personal Hygiene
Personal hygiene is keeping yourself clean and healthy. It is important in the kitchen because if we are not clean, we can contaminate the food. Here are some ways to keep up our personal hygiene:
- Showering/Bathing every day
- Washing hands frequently
- Brushing teeth every day
- Wearing deodorant
- Keeping long hair pulled up
- Trimming nails