Biological Hazards In Food

Organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites can cause food spoilage and diseases in humans. To prevent this, we should:

  • Follow personal hygiene rules.
  • Store food properly.
  • Pay attention to hygiene when preparing food.

Spoilage of Food

Spoilage refers to changes in a food’s appearance, smell, taste, and texture that make it unfit for human consumption. Many factors can cause food to spoil, with one of the crucial being microbiological spoilage.

Microbiological spoilage of food happens when organisms that cannot be seen with naked eyes such as bacteria, yeasts, and molds (also known as microorganisms) contaminates the food.

Microorganisms can cause serious problems when it comes to food safety.

A microbiological problem begins with the contamination of the microorganism. Therefore, we should ensure to take necessary steps in order to prevent microorganisms from contaminating the food.

Measures to Prevent Microbial Contamination

  • Cleaning,
  • Disinfection,
  • Sanitation,
  • Cooking raw and cooked foods in separate areas with separate equipment,
  • Personal hygiene,
  • Pest control,
  • Sourcing clean raw materials,

can all help prevent contamination. The goal is to stop microorganisms from multiplying, or at least keep them at a level that’s safe.

Microorganisms That Could Cause Spoilage

BACTERIA
VIRUSES
PARASITES
MOLDS
YEASTS