Each year millions of people get ill and die as a
result of consuming contaminated food.
result of consuming contaminated food.
Mayo (2011) explains that contamination of food can
happen at any point during its production, growing, home washing, processing,
storing and preparation. This is especially troublesome for raw-ready to eat
food such as salads or other products. Because these foods are not cooked,
harmful organisms aren’t destroyed before they can cause food poisoning. The
major causes of food poisoning are as follows: bacteria, viruses, and parasitic
organisms.
happen at any point during its production, growing, home washing, processing,
storing and preparation. This is especially troublesome for raw-ready to eat
food such as salads or other products. Because these foods are not cooked,
harmful organisms aren’t destroyed before they can cause food poisoning. The
major causes of food poisoning are as follows: bacteria, viruses, and parasitic
organisms.
Bacteria
According to National Institute of Health [NIH] (2010)
Bacteria are tiny organisms that can cause infections of the gastro-intestinal
tract, not all bacteria are harmful to humans some harmful bacteria may be
present already in food when they are purchased, raw foods including meat,
poultry, fish, egg, unpasteurized milk, dairy products, fresh tomatoes and
pepper etc. Food may also be contaminated with bacteria during preparation and
handling in restaurant and at home. If the food handlers do not thoroughly wash
their hands, kitchen utensils, cutting board and other kitchen surfaces that
come in contact with raw food cross-contamination may occur (spread of
contaminated food with uncontaminated food).
Bacteria are tiny organisms that can cause infections of the gastro-intestinal
tract, not all bacteria are harmful to humans some harmful bacteria may be
present already in food when they are purchased, raw foods including meat,
poultry, fish, egg, unpasteurized milk, dairy products, fresh tomatoes and
pepper etc. Food may also be contaminated with bacteria during preparation and
handling in restaurant and at home. If the food handlers do not thoroughly wash
their hands, kitchen utensils, cutting board and other kitchen surfaces that
come in contact with raw food cross-contamination may occur (spread of
contaminated food with uncontaminated food).
According to Martins (2016) many types of bacteria that causes food
poisoning include:
poisoning include:
Salmonellae
Clostridium
perfringes
perfringes
Escherichia
coli (E.coli)
coli (E.coli)
Campylobacter
jejuni
jejuni
Streptococcus faccalis
Staphylococcus
aureus
aureus
Clostridium
botulinum.
botulinum.
Virus
Virus are tiny capsules much smaller than bacteria,
they contain genetic materials, virus cause infections that can lead sickness,
they are present in stool or vomit of people who are already infected, people
who are infected with a virus may contaminate food and drinks especially if
they do not wash their hands thoroughly after using the bathroom.
they contain genetic materials, virus cause infections that can lead sickness,
they are present in stool or vomit of people who are already infected, people
who are infected with a virus may contaminate food and drinks especially if
they do not wash their hands thoroughly after using the bathroom.
Sources of food borne virus includes:
Food prepared
by a person infected with a virus.
by a person infected with a virus.
Fish
contaminated into water.
contaminated into water.
Products
irrigated with contaminated water.
irrigated with contaminated water.
(NIH, 2010).
Parasites
Parasites are tiny organisms that live inside other
organisms in developed countries such as United States. Parasitic infections
are relatively rare, cryptosporidium parrum and Giadia intestinalis are
parasites that spread through water contained with stool of people or animals
that are infected. Food handlers who are infected with these parasites can also
contaminate food if they do not thoroughly wash their hands after using latrine
and before handling food (NIH, 2010).
organisms in developed countries such as United States. Parasitic infections
are relatively rare, cryptosporidium parrum and Giadia intestinalis are
parasites that spread through water contained with stool of people or animals
that are infected. Food handlers who are infected with these parasites can also
contaminate food if they do not thoroughly wash their hands after using latrine
and before handling food (NIH, 2010).
According to Dibia (2007) symptoms include aneamia,
malnutrition and discomfort. The commonest of this parasite include Giadia
lambia, Taenia worms (Taenia saginata, Taenia solium), round worms
(Lumbricoids), Threadworms, pin worms, Entamoeba vermicularis and Trichinela
spiralis.
malnutrition and discomfort. The commonest of this parasite include Giadia
lambia, Taenia worms (Taenia saginata, Taenia solium), round worms
(Lumbricoids), Threadworms, pin worms, Entamoeba vermicularis and Trichinela
spiralis.
