The CDC estimates that each year 48 million people get sick from food-borne illnesses, 128 thousand are hospitalized and 3 thousand die from food poisoning.

Aren't we just put off by this absurd situation with the mishandling of foodstuff that often leads to unpleasant experiences? Going to that fun party and enjoying the snacks completely oblivious of what awaits you. Ending up lecturing yourself on your way to the bathroom.

All food handlers should take extra care and attention to ensure proper food handling. Food hygiene entails the preparation, handling, storage, and preparation of food items including drinks in measurable conditions affecting human consumption and reducing the risk of infections and diseases. Food preparation and handling are done in every sector of human lives from homes to restaurants.

Tips on how to handle food in specific places

1Restaurants

This is a busy environment with a lot of food and people. It requires a well-established system and a top-notch routine of doing things to keep it at the best possible standards. The management and food handlers should have a wide knowledge of what food hygiene is and how to implement it.

A few routine checks like cleaning procedures, and cleaning all equipments, surfaces, floors and bins must be met meticulously.

Personal hygiene is paramount from wearing appropriate uniforms and protective clothing. Regular up to standard cleaning of hands ensures no episodes of food poisoning.

Food storage from temporary to long-term food storage, both cooked and uncooked should be properly labeled and put away at the right temperature. Basic information like which food should be stored with which food should be available to food handlers.

Proper cooking. Cooking eliminates harmful bacteria present in food. While reheating or cooking the right temperatures should be at a minimum of 63 degrees Celsius before being served especially poultry and beef products.

2Home

This is a place where you eat almost all your meals in a day. A few tips will go a long way.

Avoiding over-packing your refrigerators it will save you the trouble of food poisoning. All the groceries and leftover foods might be so tempting to pack them all in your fridge but remember it will hinder the free air circulation needed to maintain food freshness.

Allow leftovers to cool down before storing them, two hours is the most effective time in a well-packaged manner.

Pay close attention to expiry dates to avoid cooking and consuming expired products.

Washing hands. It's always the leading precaution at home from food poisoning. Ensure all your family members wash their hands clean before cooking and handling food.

3Manufacturing environment

Food manufacturing is one of the most difficult environments to maintain standards of cleanliness. It can be both very unhygienic and hazardous.

Waste management in a manufacturing environment. It's prone to have high quantities of waste products. Proper management and disposal is crucial. Keep it at a safe distance and ensure regular disposal and cleaning of bins.

Quality checks. Regular checks will ensure health and safety standards are being adhered to. It helps early identification of defection and hence maintains and controls contamination.

• Food hygiene target's prevention of food spoilage due to contamination as a result of unclean poor environmental conditions.

• Targets to orient and educate the general masses on how to avoid food poisoning.

• Targets to extend the good shelf life of food items through the provision of suitable conditions necessary to prevent outbreaks of food-related diseases like cholera.

Importance of food hygiene

• Provisions of safe food. Food hygiene ensures the delivery of safe-to-consume food. This prevents contamination and stops the spread of bacteria and parasites that causes illnesses.

• Avoids wastage of food. Spoiled food would mean disposal that if handled properly would have been used otherwise. Proper handling ensures that little-to-no-produced food is disposed of.

• Saves time and resources. illnesses caused by food poisoning costs both individuals and governments tonnes of money otherwise needed. The discomfort and time wasted during recovery could also be avoided easily.

• Ensures daily healthy living. Well-handled food items guarantee a healthy normal life free from discomfort and pain.

Measures to avoid food poisoning

• Ensure the security of your source of food before taking it. From water and drinks to solid food. If you are not sure or are suspecting, it's best to avoid its ingestion.

• If you are more susceptible to food poisoning, then be extra careful. Some individuals by nature or due to chronic illnesses of the digestive system or otherwise are more prone to food poisoning. Avoid eating in public places like restaurants or parties because the food handling techniques used may not be up to your standard.

• Ensure daily food hygiene in your immediate environment like at home or your workplace. This extra care prevents the multiplication and spread of germs. It will save you time and resources.

• Keep your immediate environment clean. Lack of proper hand washing alone accounts for 33% of all food poisoning-related illnesses. A significant impact was especially seen during the covid 19 period because the hygiene levels of all people significantly improved thus reducing the prevalence of food-related poisoning.

Ensuring that food safety is a paramount part of the food preparation process is a shortcut to healthy daily living. Around the world, people get sick daily from parasites, bacteria, and viruses found in food.

Remember there is no way of telling if food is contaminated just by looking at it or tasting it. Good hygiene is a topic easily overlooked because its effects are highly underlooked and yet it can cause more serious conditions like liver failure and especially among high-risk groups like children, the elderly, pregnant mothers, cancer, and HIV patients.