Chapter - 1 Food Safety
Chapter - 1 Food Safety
Chapter - 1 Food Safety
FOOD SAFETY
The safety of food produced, served & consumed is of utmost importance to
everyone, more so to those who habitually eat outside their homes and are
unaware of the intrinsic quality of food that is served to them, even though
their taste buds approve it.
The relationship of safe food & wealth is well established & has been linked
to the cultural practices of the country. The problem of getting safe food is
more severe in public eating places where large quantity of food are pre-
prepared, held & finished on demand for service.
Food safety problems can be tackled at various levels in different ways with
training in safety being organized. Training in safety can be organized under
3 distinct categories usually abbreviated as the 3E’s, namely safety
education; safety engineering and enforcement of safety.
I. SAFETY EDUCATION
Safety programs and policies can only be effective if the staffs are trained to
think and act safety at work for this, educating them in the following areas is
necessary.
II.ENFORCEMENT OF SAFETY
That means implementation or practice safety rules need to be enforced
by rule, law or custom and practice. Also by
i. Discipline at work
ii. Close supervision of all activities in vulnerable areas and at peak
hours
iii. Closing all switches for fuel supply and water taps when not in use.
iv. Immediate attention to repair of leaks and regular maintenance and
servicing of equipments to ensure optimum operation
Defination: - food safety is defined as keeping food safe to eat at every stage
of (purchasing, receiving, storage, preparing, cooking, holding, cooling,
reheating, and serving) handling as it passes through the flow of food from
farm to table.
FOOD HAZARDS
According to 2005 FDA food code, a hazard is a biological, chemical or
physical property that may cause a food to be unsafe for human
consumption
1. Biological hazard include bacterial viral and parasitic microorganisms
bacteria: e.g. bacillus cereus, campylobacter jejuni, clostridium
botulinum, E. coli, salmonella spp, shigella spp.
Viruses can exist in food without growing, but they can rapidly reproduce
once they are on a living host, most typically a human being. Viruses can
best be controlled by good personal hygiene, because that limits the
transmission of viruses via human contact or common food contact e.g.
hepatitis A and E, rotavirus, nor virus, reo virus.
Parasites also need a host. They are mostly animals – host specific. What
the can survive in humans. Adequate cooking or freezing destroys
parasites. Special attention to foods such as pork, fish and bear, the are
known to carry parasites. E.g. taenia spp, trichinella spiralis.
2. CHEMICAL HAZARDS
chemical hazards also cause food borne illness. Chemical hazards may
occur naturally or may be introduced during any stage of food production.
Natural occurring chemicals can be found in some species of fish or shell
fish some plant foods and mushrooms e.g. some chemicals added to food
also make them unsafe. These include sulfites, sodium nitrates, mono
sodium glutamate or lead, copper environmental additives (fertilizers
pesticides) and cleaning agents (sanitizers, lubricants)
3. PHYSICAL HAZARDS
Any physical material or foreign object not normally found in a food that
can cause illness and injury it may result from contamination
carelessness, mishandling and implementing poor procedures at many
points. From harvest to consumers. e.g. Glass, wood, stone, metal,
fragments, bone, plastic.
Food hygiene
Food hygiene may be defined as the sanitary science which aims to
produce food that is safe for the consumer and of good keeping quality. It
covers a wide field and includes the rearing, feeding, marketing and
slaughter of animals as well as the sanitation procedures designed to
prevent bacteria of human origin reaching foodstuffs.
CHAPTER – 2
MICRO ORGANISM IN FOOD
General characteristics
1. Bacteria are minute unicellular plant like micro organisms. The length
of bacterial cell is about 1um and smaller than this in diameter.
Bacteria are classified according to the shapes of their shells. Looci
are spherical in shape, vacilli, elongated cylindrical forms, spiral, they
can pass through natural pores of foods. Bacterial spores are seed like
and they are more resistant to most processing conditions than yeast
or mold spores.
Bacteria with few exceptions, cannot grew in media as acid as
those in which yeast and mold thrive. They multiply by cell division.
Under favorable conditions bacteria can double their number every 30
min. Some bacteria cannot tolerate oxygen (anaerobes) and some
require oxygen for growth (aerobes). Some can grow in an atmosphere
devoid of oxygen but manage also in air (facultative anaerobes)
YEAST
Yeast are unicellular plants(fungi) widely distributed In nature and they
grow well in slightly acid medium in the presence of sugar and water
they are found in fruits, cereals and other food containing sugar. They
are also found in soil, air, on the skins and in the intestine of animals.
They are larger than bacteria. The individual cell length is about 10um
and the diameter is about 1/3rd of this size. Most yeast is spherical and
ellipsoidal. They have been used for centuries for leavening of bread
and to bring about fermentation of food usage they can be harmful to
foods if they bring about undesired fermentation.
MOULDS
Moulds are multicellular filamentous fungi having a fuzzy or cottony
appearance Cohen they grow in foods. They are larger than yeast.
They are strictly aerobes and require oxygen for growth and
multiplication. They grow slowly than bacteria. Moulds frequently threw
under conditions of acidity or of osmotic pressure. Those are inhibitory
to most bacteria. That is why they are found on jams and jellies moulds
require less free moisture for growth than yeast and bacteria the
absence of bright light and presence of stagnant air favour there rapid
development.
VIRUS
The viruses are extremely small ranging from 25-250um in size.
although they share some characteristics with living organisms, they
are not truly alive. They replicate inside a living cell using its host cells
metabolism.
There are no of ways by which viruses may be transmitted most
common of this is via direct or distance contact i.e. from host to host
by touching or through short distance in air. Indirect transmission may
occur. Also via contact with inanimate objects (formites), by the bite of
certain infected insects (vector) by water and food (vehicles)
There are variety of ways in which viruses May entre foods.
i. Primary when the food product already contain virus at the time
of slaughter or harvest or
ii. Secondary when it occurs during processing, storage or
distribution of a food.
PARASITES
Ingestion of raw or semi-cooked food by humans can lead to
infection by parasites. Food like pork, beef, lamb, shellfish,
vegetables act as vehicles for infection.
The organism contaminated food when raw human excreta are used
as for crops. Infected water poor hygiene also spread parasite.
Cooking kills most of these parasites.
1. WATER
Microorganisms grow in aqueous solutions. A term, “water activity (aw)”
express the degree of availability of water in foods. Foods with high water
content deteriorate fast. Leafy vegetables, fruits, meat, milk deteriorate
rapidly. Fruits & vegetables can give of moisture from respiration &
transpiration even when packed in a moisture free package. This moisture is
enough for microorganisms to grow.
CHAPTER – 3
FOOD SPOILAGE & FOOD
PRESERVATION
Foods undergo deterioration or spoilage from the time they are harvested,
slaughtered or manufactured. Foods undergo physiological, chemical and
biological changes & make them unfit for human consumption.
i. Micro-organisms
ii. Activities of enzymes present in food
iii. Insects
iv. parasites
v. rodents
vi. temperature
vii.moisture
viii.Oxygen, light and time.
These factors are not isolated In nature. At any one time, many forms of
spoilage may take place depending upon the food and environmental
conditions.
Cereal products
Wheat flour – bacteria – bacillus, sarcina, micrococeus, molds –
aspergillus, penicillium.
Corn meal – molds – fusarum, penicillum.
Bread – a freshly baked loaf is practically free of viable
microorganisms, but mold spores contaminate during cooking & before
wrapping slicing by knives also contaminates.
MILK PRODUCTS
MEAT
The healthy inner flesh meat contains few or no microorganisms although
they have been found in lymph nodes, bone marrow & even flesh. Normal
slaughtering practices would remove the lymph nodes from edible parts.
Contamination comes from external sources during bleeding, handling and
processing. During bleeding, skinning and cutting the main sources of
microbes is the exterior of the animals (hide, hoofs and hair) and the
intestinal tract.
• Knives, clothes, air, hands and clothing of the workers can serve as
intermediate source of containments.
• During handling contamination comes from cart, boxes, and
contaminated meat, from air and from personals.
• Grinders, sausages stuffers, slicing, casing and ingredients are the
sources.
• In home refrigerators, containers used previously to store meats act as
a source.
CANNED PRODUCT
Spoilage occurs by chemical, biological or both.
FOOD PRESERVATION
Methods of food preservations
1. Asepsis or keeping out microorganisms.
2. Removal of microorganisms.
3. Maintenance of anaerobic conditions.
4. Use of high temperature.
5. Use of low temperature.
6. Drying
7. Use of chemical preservatives
8. Irradiation
9. Mechanical destruction of microorganisms by grinding or high
pressure.
10.Combination of two or more of above methods.
The methods used to control the activities of microbes usually are effective
against enzymatic activities. A summary of the major preservation factor and
their mode of action and achievement presented in the graph.
GROWTH CURVE
Logarithm of
numbers of
organisms
TIME IN HOURS
(1) The initial lag phase (A to B), during which there is no growth or even a
decline in numbers.
(2)The phase of positive acceleration the rate of growth is continuously
increasing.
(3)The log or exponential phase of growth (C to D), during which the rate
of multiplication is most rapid and is constant.
(4)The phase of negative acceleration (D to E), during which the rate of
multiplication is decreasing.
(5)The maximal stationary phase (E to F), where numbers remain
constant.
(6)The accelerated death phase (F to G).
(7)The death phase or phase of decline (G to H), during which numbers
decrease at a faster rates then new cells are formed and
(8)The survival phase (H to I) during which no cell division occur but
remaining cells survive on endogenous nutrients.
METHOD OF PRESERVATION
1) ASEPSIS: - keeping out the microorganisms by adopting good
hygienic practices and sanitized environment.
2) REMOVAL OF MICROOGANISMS: - Can be done by
filtration, centrifugation (sedimentation or clarification) washing or
trimming.
3) MAINTENANCE OF ANEROBIC CONDITION: - a
complete fill, evacuation of unfilled space or replacement of air by
carbon dioxide and by inert gas nitrogen.
4) PRESERVATION BY USE OF HIGH
TEMPERATURES: - high temperatures denature proteins and
inactivate enzymes required for metabolisms of the microorganisms.
That treatment varies with microorganisms. Depending on the heat
treatment employed some of the vegetative cells, most of the cells are
part of bacterial spores, or all of them may be killed.
Yeast and yeast spores: ascospores are killed at 600C for 10 to 15
minutes
Yeast and yeast spores: 62.80C for 30 minutes, 71.70C for 15 seconds.
Mold & mold spores: Are killed at 600C in 5 to 10 minutes e.g.
aspergillus.
Bacteria: salmonella typhe - 600C for 4 minute E.coli – 57.30C for 20 to
30 minutes, streptococcus thermophiles – 700C to 750C for 15 minutes,
clostridium botulinium - 1000C for 100 to 330 minutes.
5) PRESERVATION BY USE OF LOW TEMPERATURE:
- low temperatures are used to retard chemical reactions and action of
food enzymes and to slow down or stop the growth and activity of
microorganisms in foods. The lower the temperature the slower the
chemical reaction, enzyme action and microbial growth, a low enough
temperature will prevent the growth of any microorganisms.
Commercial refrigeration temperatures i.e. lower than 50C to 70C
effectively retard growth of many borne pathogens.
Common or cellar storage lower than 150C (for root crops, potatoes,
cabbage, apples)
FROZEN STORAGE: -
• Sharp freezing: - -150C to 290C & may take 3 – 72 hours.
• Quick freezing: -
a) Direct immersion of the food or the package food in a refrigerant as in
the freezing of fish in brine.
b) Indirect contact with the refrigerant at -17.80C to -45.60C.
c) Air blast freezing where air at -17.80C to -34.40C is blown across the
materials being frozen.
6) PRESEVATION BY DRYING: - drying usually is
accomplished by the removal of water but any method that reduces
the amount of available moisture in a food is a form of drying, method
of drying includes
• Solar drying ( raisins, figs, pears, fish, rice)
• Mechanical dryers – it involves passage of heated air with controlled
relative humidity over the food to be dried or the passage of the food
through such air. E.g. evaporator or kiln, drum dry, spray drying, freeze
dryers & vacuum dryers.
6) PRESERVATION BY FOOD ADDITIVES: - A food
additive is a substance or mixture of substances, other than the basic
food stuff, which is present in food as a result of any aspect of
production, processing, storage or packaging. Those food additives
which are specifically added to prevent the deterioration or
decomposition of a food are referred as chemical preservatives, their
enzymes activity or their genetic mechanisms. E.g. propeonic acid,
sodium or calcium propionates, sorbic acid, nitrite & nitrates, salt,
sugar, wood smoke, spices, spices like cinnamon & cloves.
7) PRESERVATIO BY RADIATION: -Use of U.V radiation,
ionizing radiation which include x rays, gamma rays, beta rays and
cathod rays and microwave heating which have electromagnetic waves
between infrared and radio waves.
CHAPTER – 4
BENIFICIAL ROLE OF MICROORGANISMS
MICROBIAL ACTIVITIES IN FOODS
1) Indigestion
2) Food intolerance or food sensitivity
3) Algae toxins
4) Metal poisons
5) Phyllotoxins
6) Manufactured agricultural & household chemicals
7) Zootoxins
8) Protozoan disease
9) Infestation
10)Microbial infections
11)Bacterial & fungal food intoxications.
CHAPTER – 6
FOOD ADDITIVES
Food additives is any substance not naturally present in a food but added
during its preparation and remaining in the finished product. Food additives
are all substances added to basic food products. They include anything
added during the production, processing, treatment, packaging, transport &
storage of a food. Food additives are used to decrease the risk of
contamination by certain microbes, maintain and improve nutritional quality,
enhance appearance, increase self life, reduce waste or contribute to
convenience. The PFA gives the definition and list of permissible additives
along with the amount permitted. The substance to be used as food additive
should be of good grade and must meet the PFA or B-S specifications. With
the present degree of urbanization it would be impossible to maintain food
distribution without the processing and packaging with which many additives
are involved. The convenience food revolution would not be possible without
food additives.
CHAPTER – 7
FOOD CONTAMINATION & FOOD
ADULTERATION
Food adulteration of food stuff is commonly practiced in India by the trader.
Adulteration defined as the process by which the quality or the nature of a
given substance is reduced to
TYPE OF ADULTERANT
INTENTIONAL ADULTERANTS
Intentional adulterants are sand, marble, drip, stone, mud, chalk powder,
water, mineral oil and coal tar, die the adulterants cause harmful effects
on the body.
CHAPTER – 8
FOOD LAWS
Food laws came in existence for a number of reasons: -
The sale of goods act is based on the rule of justice, equity and good
conscience. it provides a legal solution in case of breach of contract or
warranty between and seller, virtue of which damages can be claimed
against a defaulting party in a court of law
The PFA act, 1954 thus lays down the guidelines for setting up standards for
various food items like cereals & cereal products, pulses, ghee etc. All
processed items which are mass produced for public use expected to
conform to these standards. The penalty for adulteration that is injurious to
health involves a minimum punishment of 1 year in jail and fine of 2000/-
extendable to 6 years and a higher fine as fixed by the court. Adulteration
which is not injurious to health is punishable by 6 months in jail and a fine of
1000/- extendable to 3 years and a minimum fine of as decided by the court.
FOOD STANDARDS IN INDIA
Some food standards have been formulated and some rules laid down to be
followed under the act, the most of which are the: -
1) PFA standards
2) FPO standards
3) AGMARK standards
4) INDIAN standards
MILK AND MILK PRODUCT ORDER (MMPO): - This was passed by the
government in 1992 the MMPO provides for setting up of an advisory board
to advise the government on the production, sale, purchase and distribution
of milk.
ECOMARK: - this system launched by the BIS was introduced to preserve the
environment from pollutants. The mark ensures the consumer that products
do not produce hazardous waste materials, are biodegradable and can be
recycled. Food item covered includes edible oil, tea, coffee, beverages, infant
food, processed foods along with food additives, preservatives and
packaging materials as well.