The Effects of Cross Contamination

Cross contamination

Certain foods will always contain some bacteria. Poor handling of these foods may result in cross contamination; Cross contamination is the passing of bacteria from contaminated food to uncontaminated food. Cross contamination can occur when storing or handling food.

Food Poisoning and Food Contamination

Food poisoning occurs after eating food contaminated by bacteria. The symptoms of food poisoning are basically the same as those of stomach flu, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever, But if your child and other people who have eaten the same food all have the same symptoms, the problem is more likely to be food poisoning than stomach flu. The bacteria that cause food poisoning cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, so your child won’t know when she is eating them.

These organisms include:

Staphylococcus Aureus (Staph)

These bacteria ordinarily cause skin infections, such as pimples or boils and are transferred when foods are handled by an infected person. When food is left at a specific temperature (100 degrees Fahrenheit) the staph bacteria multiply and produce a poison (toxin) that ordinary cooking will not destroy. The symptoms begin one to six hours after eating the contaminated food and the discomfort usually lasts about one day. This is a leading cause of food poisoning.

Salmonella

Salmonella bacteria are another major cause of food poisoning in the United States (there are many types). The most commonly contaminated foods are raw meat (including chicken), raw or undercooked eggs and unpasteurised milk. Salmonella is killed when the food is cooked thoroughly. Symptoms caused by salmonella poisoning start sixteen to 48 hours after eating and may last two to seven days.

E. coli

Escherichia c...

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...ing facility. Don’t clean your hands in a sink used for food preparation or in a sink where you wash your dishes, pans or in any type of service sink.

The dos and don’ts of presentation hygiene when dealing food

Why is food hygiene important?

Everyday people get ill from the food they eat. Micro-organisms including bacteria, viruses and moulds found in food can cause food poisoning, leading to unpleasant symptoms such as stomach pains, diarrhoea and vomiting. Food poisoning can sometimes lead to gastroenteritis, which is inflammation of your stomach and bowel or even more serious health problems, such as blood poisoning (septicaemia) and kidney failure. Anyone can get food poisoning but some people, including babies, children and older people, are more likely to have serious symptoms. If you’re pregnant, you need to be particularly careful not to get food poisoning.