There are too many "don't do" things to mention. The largest threat to health and safety while cooking is cross contamination so don't allow cross contamination during your food prep. That means keep raw foods separated from cooked foods both during storage and preparation. Don't use the same tools (knives, cutting boards, tongs, mixing spoons, etc) to prep your salad that you used to prep your raw meat and don't use the same tools that you used to prep the raw meat for serving the cooked meat. Also don't use the same tools for one raw meat that you used to prep a different raw meat, i.e. don't cut a chicken then use the same knife and cutting board for beef without cleaning them first. Wash your hands after handling raw meat or other proteins before doing anything else. Clean and sanitize your workspace after prepping raw proteins before doing anything else. Wash your hands. Wash your hands. And, don't forget to wash your hands often.
Use water as hot as is comfortable to you, use soap, scrub for 30 seconds, don't forget your wrists, back of hands, and fingernails, rinse your hands and dry with a clean, unused cloth towel or paper towels. I advise using paper towels instead of cloth towels because there is a smaller risk of using a paper towel to dry your hands that someone else used to wipe up after prepping raw meat.
touching your hair or face, cough or sneezing without washing your hands, cross-contamination, and handling chemicals.
washing hands before handling food.
Jacquelyn L. Bostic has written: 'HACCP for food service professionals' -- subject(s): Handbooks, manuals, Quality control, Food contamination, Food, Food service, Food handling, Microbiology
Four ways of protecting food from contamination is proper storage, properly cooking, maintain hygiene and handling the food correctly.
Food workers should wash their hands before handling raw foods, after handling raw foods, and before touching ready-to-eat foods to prevent cross-contamination. They should also wash their hands after using the restroom, touching their face, or handling any items that could introduce bacteria. Regular handwashing is crucial to ensure food safety and protect against foodborne illnesses. Additionally, using separate utensils and cutting boards for raw and ready-to-eat foods can further minimize cross-contamination risks.
Contamination of food items by other living organisms is known as "biological contamination." This can occur through the presence of bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi, which can lead to foodborne illnesses. Sources of biological contamination often include improper food handling, inadequate cooking, or cross-contamination during food preparation. Ensuring proper hygiene and food safety practices helps minimize the risk of such contamination.
The most common reason for food born illness is contamination of the food. If the food is exposed to things such as animal feces or workers handling the product with dirty hands, then there is a risk of contamination.
Contamination can occur at anytime during the production and handling of food.
When using gloves for food handling, you are required to ensure that the gloves are clean and free from any tears or damages. It's important to change gloves frequently, especially after handling raw foods, using the restroom, or touching non-food surfaces. Additionally, gloves should not be a substitute for handwashing; hands should be washed before putting on gloves and after removing them. Proper glove use helps prevent cross-contamination and ensures food safety.
Allergenic contamination of food refers to the unintended presence of allergenic substances in food products, which can occur during processing, handling, or packaging. This can happen when allergenic ingredients come into contact with non-allergenic foods, leading to cross-contamination. Such contamination poses significant health risks for individuals with food allergies, as even trace amounts of allergens can trigger severe allergic reactions. Proper labeling and strict food safety practices are essential to prevent allergenic contamination.
Contamination of food items by other living organisms refers to the presence of harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi, that can compromise food safety and quality. This contamination can occur during various stages of food production, processing, and handling, leading to foodborne illnesses if consumed. Common sources of contamination include improper hygiene practices, cross-contamination between raw and cooked foods, and environmental factors. It's crucial to implement proper food safety measures to minimize the risk of such contamination.
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