Food Safety Flashcards
how many food borne illnesses a year
4 million cases
who is vulnerable to food borne illnesses
pregnant people
newborns
older adults
immunocompromised people
2 ways microbes cause illness
infection
intoxication (produce enterotoxins and neurotoxins)
flow of food safety
farms - processing - transportation - retail - plate
when does most food poisoning occur
consumer level - after purchase
ways of protecting consumers
batch numbering
freshness dates
seals/wrappers/safety buttons
dented cans
what are the four keepers
keep hot food hot
keep cold food cold
keep raw foods separate
keep hands/kitchen clean
what part of the hands harbour bacteria
nails (artificial nails/long nails/chipped polish)
safest fridge temperature
greater than or equal to 4 degrees
what foods are most likely to cause illness
foods high in moisture/nutrients and chopped/ground
- protein foods (meat)
- eggs
- raw produce
- honey
what is irridation
ionizing radiation to reduce insect infestation/microbial contamination
also used to slow ripening process
what is cold pasteurization
irridation
foods approved for irridation in canada
onions, potatoes, whole-wheat flour, whole and ground spices, dehydrated seasoning
what nutrients are effected in irridation process
heat-sensitive nutrients
- B vitamins and vit C
what nutrients remain intact in irridation process
macronutrients
is irridation safe
40+ years of research says yes
“best by” or “best if used by” meaning
date when food will have best flavour
still safe to eat past expiry date
“use by” or “expiration date” meaning
last date the product will be at peak quality
still safe to eat (aside from infant formula)
“packaging/manufacturing” date meaning
not an expiration date
used for tracking
“sell by” meaning
for stores to know how long they should display product
safe to eat past the date
what foods can be consumed one year after the expiration date
packaged foods (pasta, cereal, dried beans, baking mixed)
frozen foods
canned foods
what foods are good for 30 days past expiration date
butter
hard cheeses
eggs
what foods are good for 7 days after expiration date
milk
yogurt
cream cheese
do canned foods lose nutrients
minerals/water-soluble vitamins can be lost when they dissolve into canning water that will then get thrown away
how do companies minimize nutrient loss in canned foods
high-temp-short-time principle (HTST)
three nutrients most affected by canning
thiamin, riboflavin, vit C
what does freezing do to food
stops bacterial reproduction and slows enzymatic reactions
- if stored correctly, frozen foods will have more nutrients than fresh foods
what are GMOs
plant-based organism that has its DNA altered and contains genes from another plant-based organism