4.1 Food- related causes of ill health Flashcards
what are microbes
tiny microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts and moulds which can spoil food
what are bacteria
single celled microorganisms, most are harmless, some are pathogenic and can cause food poisonng
meaning of pathogenic
harmful bacteria which can cause food poisoning
what is a symptom
a sign or indication of an illness or disease
at what temperature do bacteria grow best at
37 degrees ( room temp )
what foods do bacteria prefer
moist conditions on neutral foods containing protein
what are the sources of bacteria
animals, raw food, pests, people, air and dust, soil, food waste, water
what are yeasts
single- celled fungi that reproduce by budding
what is budding
where the yeast cell grows a bud, which becomes bigger until it eventually breaks off and becomes a new yeast cell
where do yeasts prefer to grow
in moist and acidic foods, they grow best in warm conditions 25- 29 degrees but can also grow at fridge temps 0- 5 degrees
at what temperatures are yeasts destroyed
above 100 degrees
what are moulds
tiny fungi which produce thread like filaments that help the mould spread around the food, they spoil food
where do moulds typically grow
on bread, cheese, soft fruits
at what temperatures do moulds grow best
between 20 - 30 degrees but also can grow in fridge temperatures
how is mould growth sped up
by high humidity and fluctuating temperatures
what chemicals can contaminate food
things like cleaning fluids
insecticides
bleach
very poisonous if swallowed
how can aluminium contaminate food
common metal used in cookware, if it comes in contact with acidic foods ( lemons/ tomatoes) they can dissolve into the food and can give food an unwanted metallic taste
However no link to disease
how can aluminium be prevented from getting into foods
aluminium cookware can be anodised ( hardened through a process that makes it unreactive) or coated with a less reactive material like stainless steel so that it doesn’t react with food
why is copper used in the kitchen
it warms quickly and is the best conductor of heat
how can copper contaminate
can react with acidic foods , can leach ( dissolve into food ) and can be toxic, most copper pans are lined with stainless steel to avoid this happening
what are toxins
a poison, especially one produced by microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts and moulds
Examples of plants which could be poisonous
- mushrooms ( death cap, autumn skullcap can lead to kidney pain, fatigue, vomiting)
- Poisonous berries like yew berries can lead to diarrhoea and vomiting if consumed
- Rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid, fatal if eaten, shuts down kidneys
- Glycoalkaloids, found in leaves, stems of potatoes, build up if potatoes are left in light for too long eating these can lead to cramps, diarrhoea coma
- damp nuts and cereals can develop a mould that produces a toxin which can damage the liver
- dried kidneys contain a toxin called lectin, unsuitable for eating, can lead to food poisoning, to avoid this, kidney beans should be soaked and boiled for at least 10 mins to destroy the toxin
what is the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance
a food intolerance is when the body is sensitive to a certain food whilst an allergy is the body’s immune system reacting to the food which could lead to a fatal reaction
what are common allergies
nuts eggs fish milk celery
what are food intolerances
a sensitivity to certain foods; can cause symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pains, tiredness and weakness
what is lactose
a sugar naturally found in milk
what does it mean if someone is lactose intolerant
the person cannot digest digest the sugar in milk called lactose, they need to avoid any dairy product and foods that contain dairy products in the ingredients
