The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the critical importance of safe, nutritious food for sustaining life and promoting health. A strong food safety culture in any organization involves prioritizing and fostering the right attitudes and behaviors toward food safety.
Poor Personal Hygiene
Poor personal hygiene is the leading cause of foodborne illnesses. Ensuring that all individuals involved in food preparation maintain high hygiene standards is crucial.
Improper Holding Temperatures
Maintaining the correct holding temperatures for food is essential to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria:
Cold Food: ≤ 41℉ (≤5℃)
Hot Food: ≥135℉ (≥57℃)
Improper Cooking Temperatures
Complying with cooking temperature standards minimizes the risk of contamination. Use a food thermometer to ensure that food reaches the safe minimum internal temperature.
Food from Unsafe Sources
Always obtain food items from licensed and approved sources that comply with food safety laws to avoid contamination from unsafe sources.
Contaminated Equipment/Cross Contamination
To prevent cross-contamination, clean and sanitize equipment and utensils every four hours. Use non-toxic, effective sanitizers to ensure safety.
Key Points to Food Safety
Clean
Regularly wash hands before, during, and after food preparation.
Keep kitchen and dining areas clean, sanitized, and dry.
Separate
Transport, store, and handle raw food separately from other foods to prevent the spread of pathogens.
Cook
Use a food thermometer to ensure that food is cooked to the right temperature. Color and texture are unreliable indicators of safe cooking, except for seafood.
Chill
Promptly refrigerate perishable foods, such as meat, seafood, dairy, cut fruit, some vegetables, and cooked leftovers, within two hours.
Ideal Temperatures:
Refrigerator: ≤5℃
Freezer: ≤-18℃
Ensuring food safety is a shared responsibility. By adopting these practices, we can significantly reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses and protect public health. Whether you're at home or in a professional kitchen, make food safety a priority every day.
Stay informed, stay safe, and help us build a culture of food safety. Share this article with your community and join us in the fight against foodborne illnesses. If you are looking for the best corporate healthcare partner, ActiveOne is the right choice for you. Talk to us today at inquire@activeone.com.ph
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