Consumer Concerns About Food & Water Flashcards
What are the 4 most common causes of food borne illness?
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Norovirus
- Salmonella
- E coli
Where is most listeria found?
Deli meats because it will continue to grow in 4 degree temperatures(fridge)
-transmitted by contact
What is unsafe food?
Food that has been contaminated with a harmful substances ethat causes illness or injury when eaten
What are the 3 categories of food contaminants?
Chemical
Biological
Physical
How does food spoil?
Deterioration of food is due to naturally occurring enzymes and microorganisms that colonize the food
-some micro-organisms might make you sick and others not
What are examples of how food spoils?
Fruits and meats turn brown
Milk curdles
Veggies wilt
-texture, takes and smell change as well
What causes a food borne illness?
Symptoms or illness from food/water that contains an infectious agent, a poisonous substance or a protein (altered protein) that causes an immune reaction
What is a food borne infection?
eating foods contaminated by infectious microbes
- salmonella and listeria
- symptoms: stomach cramps, fever, vomiting, diarrhea
What is a food intoxication?
Eating foods contaminated with natural toxins or microbes that produce toxins
-staph, c bot.
Why is staph troublesome?
You can not kill the toxin with heat, it is heat resistant
-whereas c bot is
What strain of e coli causes illness?
0157: H7
- water, raw meat, unpasteurized milk and juice, uncooked fruits and veggies, bean and alfa alfa
How do you prevent e coli contamination?
Thoroughly cook meat
Avoid contamination
Where do you find listeria?
Raw veggies, lunch meats, soft cheese and unpasteurized milk
Where are you mot likely to find staph?
Cream and cream filled backed goods, poultry+eggs, dressing, gravy, mayo sandwiches and salads
-contaminate through skin, cuts, noses/throats
Where would you find C bot?
Improperly canned food, meat and fish, garlic in oil, honey
How do you prevent the spread of c bot?
Properly can foods
Cook food properly (boiled for at least 10 mins)
Dont give honey to children who are <16months
How can c bot survive in cans?
Like anaerobic environments and their spores can survive in this environment. Once opened and left at the appropriate temperature
What other things can cause a food borne illness?
Virus- Hep A&E, Norwalk virus
Helminths- worms, tape worms, flukes, roundworm
-eggs hatch in host
What are some foods to avoid?
Raw/unpasturized food Raw seafood Raw eggs Undercooked meat Raw sprouts
Why should we avoid eating raw sprouts?
Even if you cook sprouts there is still a chance of contracting the toxin because the toxin is on the inside of the sprout. Once ingested it releases the toxin
Why has the transmission of food borne illnesses changed over the years?
Changed because of the significant industrialization of agriculture
What are HACCPs?
Hazard analysis critical control points.
-Industry control points where things could go wrong and these steps are highly regulated
What are municipalities trying to do interms of reducing food borne illness?
Public health Inspectors visit all eating and drinking establishments to ensure minimum standards are followed
How can consumers be aware of their food safety?
Batch numbering
Best before dates
Safety seals and Wrappers
From farms to table, how can the food be contaminated at each step?
Farm: Water supply, workers
Processing: Improper handling, unclean equipment, temperature for washing, 1 patch contaminating the rest
Transportation: Truck temperature, unloading of truck
Retail/Consumer: Fridge temp, storage
Why have illnesses become more prevalent in terms of food production?
Production has become:
- complex
- oversight has decreased
- mass produce more
- ingredients from various sources
- possible contamination at every step
What is irradiation?
Sterilizing food by exposure to energy waves
What would irradiation solve?
Controlling mould Sterilizing spices & tea Controlling insects Extending Shelf-life -Destroying bacteria
What are the benefits of irradiation?
- Not radioactive
- No notable change in taste texture or appearance
- Minimal vitamin loss
Which vitamins are the most vulnerable?
water soluble vitamins and can dissolve in water
- degradation continues once picked
- O2 easily destroyed
- readily dissolve in water
What are other resides/toxins found in food?
Mercury(fish)
POP (persistent organic pollutant)
PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins
Lead (glazes&ceramic)
What is bioaccumulation and how do you avoid it?
When mercury travels up the food chain and accumulates int he digest concentration at the top
-avoid by consuming smaller and herbivores fish
Why are pesticides bad and how do we control the usage of them?
Leave behind residues
Health Canada and CFIA monitors and enforces the rules and regulations on how much is present when consumed by the end consumer
Why do people consume organic?
- avoid pesticides&chemicals
- Benefiting environment
- protecting animals
- improving worker safety
- safer more nutritious food
- not necessarily safer from microbial infection
Are organic farmers allowed to use pesticides?
They are but they are not synthetic
-more likely use less
What is the Organically grown crop certification?
Certified by CFIA
-synthetic pesticides are not allowed
How are additives governed in Canada?
regulated under Food and Drug Act regulations.
Goof Manufacturing practic regulations
-Health Canada publishes the recalls
Why are additives regulated?
Concerned for those with allergies or hypersensitivities
-more regulating he food system and not necessarily for the individual
What are intentional food additive?
Salt & Sugar: preservation
Nitrates: preserve colour, enhance flavour, protect against bacterial growth
Antioxidants: Prevent food oxidation
Why are nitrates and sometimes?
They are good for controlling listeria but can be converted into nitrosamines which is a carcinogen
What are indirect food additives?
Glass bits, chemicals, micropplastics, dioxins, hormones, methylene chloride (decaffeinated coffee) and antibiotics
In 50 years, what will our water status look like?
1/2 worlds population will not have enough clean water to make ends meet
What are waters treated with to prevent illnesses ?
chlorine and fluoride (sometimes)
what are the sources of drinking water?
Surface: lakes, rivers
-easily contaminated but easily reversed
Groudwater: Rurale areas and wells
-slowly contaminated and less reversible
