Food Safety Flashcards
What are some primary limitations to addressing food safety concerns ?
- Easier to grab attention and present a problem than convey factual information and provide a solution
- Obscure and unusual hazards tend to be amplified while more common and widespread ones are diminished
- Journalists are not trained in science while scientists are not good at communicating stories in simple language
What are the common causes of food-borne diseases
- Microorganisms
- Additives or Substances added into foods
- Contamination from the environment
- Natural occurring compounds in foods
Which microorganisms are able to produce heat-stable toxins ?
staphylococcus aureus and e.coli
What is the expiry date set at ?
before the actual end of shelf life of the food
Is the last meal consumed responsible for food poisoning ?
No
Does appearance and taste indicate food safety ?
No, as it only indicates spoilage
Why is packaging important ?
Prevent contamination from microorganism
What are some common violations at home ?
- Failure to wash hands
- Failure to keep nails short and clean
- Wearing of jewelry
- Failure to keep hot food hot and cold food cold
- Cross contamination of work area
- Preparing foods when unwell
What are the most effective weapons against food-borne illnesses?
Proper sanitation and storage during handling and distribution
What are pesticides ?
Used to control pests and breakdown into harmless chemicals before reaching consumers
What is an example of a naturally occuring toxin ?
Tetrodotoxin
What is the concern of toxicity ?
Dose, not source
What is celiac disease ?
Autoimmune disease to gluten
What is the mechanism of celiac disease ?
Microvilli in the intestines react with gliadin
What is lactose intolerance ?
An inability to digest lactose, the lactose moves to the large intestine where it is used by microorganism as food, causing bloating and abdominal cramps
