Article Summary:
Article Content:
Safe foods are foods that are free from contamination. Safe food handling is important to prevent food poisoning and also make our body out of common diseases.
Key facts of safe food handling
*Most people carry food poisoning bacteria at one time or another
*Food poisoning bacteria are found in human’s nostril, mouth, hands, intestine and infected wound/cuts
*Food poisoning bacteria can be spread by persons handling food through sneezing, coughing onto the food and direct contact with food
*Many food poisoning outbreak arise from contamination during food preparation by persons handling food
What should I do to ensure safe food handling?
You should :
*Maintain good personal health care
*Wash hands properly especially:
*After going to toilet
*After handling food waste
*After eating, smoking or blowing the nose
*After handling raw and before handling cooked food
*Keep fingernail clean and short at all time
*Wear clean clothes/attire and head cover
*Cover wound/cut with waterproof dressing
*Remove all jewelry including watches, rings, and bracelets before preparing food
*Practice good habits when handling food
*Use spoon, fork or tong to handle cooked food
*Use separate cloth/towel for wiping hands, table and utensil
*Use separate chopping board for raw and cooked food
You should not:
*Spit, clean your nose or ears during food preparation
*Eat, smoke or chew chewing gum or betel leave during food preparation
*Cough or sneeze onto the food
*Touch the inner surface of plates, cup and glasses when serving food.
*Lick fingers while handling food
*Scratch your head while handling food
*Blow into plastic bags, wrapper of packages used for food or drink
*Taste food with fingers or unwashed spoon
*Use bare hands to handle cooked food
*Use printed material (newspaper) for food packaging
*Use broken, cracked or defective equipment or crockery to serve food