Sources of food contamination

MICROBIOLOGY

1. Sources of food contamination By: A nkitha K umari Mishra ST. GEORGE COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT AND SCIENCE 1 st msc 2 nd sem microbiology

2. INTRODUCTION Fruits and vegetables are an integral part of our diet. However, over the years, the use of pesticides and insecticides has increased drastically, which also raises the risk of a number of health problems. Apart from pesticides, there are a number of other scenarios that may lead to food contamination.

3. INTRODUCTION Though we are extra cautious when it comes to handling food items, rinsing them with plain water doesn’t serve the purpose. Many of us are not aware that food contamination is divided into four categories, all of which may lead to serious health problems. As a result, it is necessary to ditch the age-old procedures of washing fruits and vegetables and bring home a  vegetable and fruit cleaner . The advanced appliance uses ozone disinfection technology to remove pesticides and contaminants from food items

4. What is Food Contamination? Food contamination  is a commonly used term. However, only a few people are aware of the exact reasons for food contamination and its effects on your health.  When food items are not handled or cooked safely, the disease-causing organisms such as bacteria, parasites, and viruses result in food contamination. The disease-causing parasites produce toxins that may also lead to food intoxication. In addition, the presence of pesticides, certain cleaning compounds, contaminate the food.

5. The common reasons for food contamination are: Improper storing, handling and preparing food Unhygienic hands and fingernails Poor personal hygiene habits Improperly cleaned or sanitized utensils Contamination by flies, cockroaches, insects, and pests

6. Different Types of Food Contamination There are a number of reasons that can lead to  food contamination . However, food contamination falls under four different categories which are: Biological contamination Chemical contamination Physical contamination Cross-contamination

7. Biological Contamination

8. BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION Biological contamination  is one of the common causes of food poisoning as well as spoilage.   Contamination of food items by other living organisms is known as  biological food contamination. During biological contamination, the  harmful bacteria  spread on foods that you consume. Even a single bacterium can multiply very quickly when they find ideal growth conditions. just  bacteria , but also their process of multiplying can be quite harmful to humans. The common places where you can find bacteria are: Dust Raw meat The air The human body Pets and pests Clothes of food handler Kitchen clothes The best way to avoid food contamination is by washing the food items with  KENT vegetable and fruit cleaner  and wash the kitchen cloths on a regular basis

9. Physical Contamination

10. PHYSICAL CONTAMINATION When harmful objects contaminate the food it leads to  physical contamination.  At times, food items can have both physical and  biological contamination . Physical contaminants such as rats, hair, pests, glass or metals, which can contaminate food and make it unhealthy. Some of the safety tips that you can follow when handling food items to prevent food contamination are: Hair-Tie your hair when handling food

11. PHYSICAL CONTAMINATION Glass or Metal-Clean away cracked or broken crockery and utensils to avoid contamination Fingernails-Keep your fingernails short or wear clean gloves when handling food Dirt-Wash fruits and vegetables with Vegetable and Fruit Cleaner  to remove dirt Jewelry-Wear minimum jewelry when preparing food

12. Chemical Contamination

13. CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION Chemical contaminants are one of the serious sources of food contamination. These contaminants can also lead to food poisoning. Pesticides present in fruits and vegetables are one of the main sources of contamination. In addition, kitchen cleaning agents, food containers made of non-safe plastic, pest control products also lead to food contamination. Though we make it a point to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, however, plain water can’t remove all the contaminants. The smart kitchen appliance uses  ozone disinfection technology  that removes contaminants from the surface of the fruits and vegetables to make it safe for consumption.

14. CROSS CONTAMINATION

15. Cross-Contamination Many of us are not aware of cross-contamination; however, this type of contamination can lead to a number of health problems. Cross-contamination takes place when pathogens are transported from any object that you use in the kitchen. Dirty kitchen clothes, unclean utensils, pests, raw food storage can lead to cross-contamination. Here are some of the ways to avoid cross-contamination: Personal Hygiene-  Thoroughly wash your hands and face when handling food. Coughing, sneezing or even touching your hair can lead to cross-contamination Utensils-  Use separate utensils to prepare different types of foods. Avoid using the same chopping board and knife for ready to eat foods Storing Food-  Make sure raw foods don’t come in contact with ready to eat foods. Cover and store raw foods below cooked foods to prevent cross-contamination. Disposing Waste-  Make sure you store and seal garbage correctly to prevent cross-contamination. Clean and sanitize the waste bins to prevent infestation risk.

16. CONCLUSION The  four types of food contamination  mentioned above are the main causes of  food-borne diseases . Though we are very careful when handling food, however, there are many other ways through which food may get contaminated, which may go unnoticed. As a result, it is always a good idea to use a  vegetable and fruit cleaner  to wash the food items before cooking to ensure that you are eating safely.

17. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENNS WHEN WE CONSUME CONTAMINATED FOOD

18. THANK YOU