Health Encyclopedia

Food safety

Definition

Food safety refers to the conditions and practices that preserve the quality of food to prevent contamination and foodborne illnesses.

Alternative Names

Food - hygiene and sanitation

Function

Food can be contaminated in many different ways. Some food products may already contain bacteria or parasites. The germs can be spread during the packaging process if the food products are not handled properly. Failure to cook or store the food properly can cause further contamination.

Properly handling and preparing food greatly reduces the risks of getting foodborne illnesses.

Food Sources

All foods can become contaminated. Higher risk foods include red meats and poultry; eggs; cheese and dairy products; raw sprouts; and raw fish or shellfish.

Side Effects

Poor food handling and inadequate food safety can cause infection (foodborne illness). Symptoms of foodborne illness vary, but usually include stomach problems. Foodborne illness may be severe and life-threatening, especially in young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.

Recommendations

Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling any food.
Wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
Wash your hands after touching animals.
Wash all cutting boards and utensils with hot water and soap after preparing each food item and before moving on to the next food item.
Wear gloves or avoid preparing food if your hands have any cuts or sores.
Avoid cross-contaminating food items -- separate meat, poultry, and seafood from other foods and always wash your hands, utensils, and cutting boards after they come into contact with these products.
Cook to proper temperatures. Cook eggs until both the white and yolk are firm. Fish should be opaque and flake easily. Red meats and poultry should reach an internal temperature of 160 and 180 degrees, respectively. Leftovers must be reheated to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Refrigerate promptly -- some items such as meat and poultry must be frozen if they are not used within 1-2 days. Leftovers should be refrigerated within 2 hours. Keep frozen foods in the freezer until they are ready to be thawed and cooked.
Foods can also be contaminated before they are purchased. Watch for and do not use outdated food, packaged food with a broken seal, and cans that have a bulge. Do not use foods that have an unusual odor or a spoiled taste.
Prepare home-canned foods in clean conditions and very carefully. Home-canned food is the most common cause of botulism.

References

Medeiros LC, Hillers VN, Chen G, Bergmann V, Kendall P, Schroeder M. Design and development of food safety knowledge and attitude scales for consumer food safety education. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004 Nov;104(11):1671-7.

Anderson JB, Shuster TA, Hansen KE, Levy AS, Volk A. A camera's view of consumer food-handling behaviors. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004 Feb;104(2):186-91.

Redmond EC, Griffith CJ. Consumer food handling in the home: a review of food safety studies. J Food Prot. 2003 Jan;66(1):130-61.

Review Date:6/8/2007
Reviewed By:Mark Levin, M.D., Division of Infectious Disease, MacNeal Hospital, Berwyn, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

ADAM Quality A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.