4.1 Food- related causes of ill health

Question 1

what are microbes

Answer 1

tiny microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts and moulds which can spoil food

Question 2

what are bacteria

Answer 2

single celled microorganisms, most are harmless, some are pathogenic and can cause food poisonng

Question 3

meaning of pathogenic

Answer 3

harmful bacteria which can cause food poisoning

Question 4

what is a symptom

Answer 4

a sign or indication of an illness or disease

Question 5

at what temperature do bacteria grow best at

Answer 5

37 degrees ( room temp )

Question 6

what foods do bacteria prefer

Answer 6

moist conditions on neutral foods containing protein

Question 7

what are the sources of bacteria

Answer 7

animals, raw food, pests, people, air and dust, soil, food waste, water

Question 8

what are yeasts

Answer 8

single- celled fungi that reproduce by budding

Question 9

what is budding

Answer 9

where the yeast cell grows a bud, which becomes bigger until it eventually breaks off and becomes a new yeast cell

Question 10

where do yeasts prefer to grow

Answer 10

in moist and acidic foods, they grow best in warm conditions 25- 29 degrees but can also grow at fridge temps 0- 5 degrees

Question 11

at what temperatures are yeasts destroyed

Answer 11

above 100 degrees

Question 12

what are moulds

Answer 12

tiny fungi which produce thread like filaments that help the mould spread around the food, they spoil food

Question 13

where do moulds typically grow

Answer 13

on bread, cheese, soft fruits

Question 14

at what temperatures do moulds grow best

Answer 14

between 20 - 30 degrees but also can grow in fridge temperatures

Question 15

how is mould growth sped up

Answer 15

by high humidity and fluctuating temperatures

Question 16

what chemicals can contaminate food

Answer 16

things like cleaning fluids
insecticides
bleach
very poisonous if swallowed

Question 17

how can aluminium contaminate food

Answer 17

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

Question 18

how can aluminium be prevented from getting into foods

Answer 18

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

Question 19

why is copper used in the kitchen

Answer 19

it warms quickly and is the best conductor of heat

Question 20

how can copper contaminate

Answer 20

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

Question 21

what are toxins

Answer 21

a poison, especially one produced by microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts and moulds

Question 22

Examples of plants which could be poisonous

Answer 22

• 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

Question 23

what is the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance

Answer 23

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

Question 24

what are common allergies

Answer 24

nuts
eggs
fish
milk
celery

Question 25

what are food intolerances

Answer 25

a sensitivity to certain foods; can cause symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pains, tiredness and weakness

Question 26

what is lactose

Answer 26

a sugar naturally found in milk

Question 27

what does it mean if someone is lactose intolerant

Answer 27

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