IMPORTANCE OF FOOD HYGIENE

F Safe food to the customers.

F Ensures customer satisfaction, good reputation and increased business.

F Provides good working conditions, higher staff morale with lower staff turnover.

F Increases the shelf life of food.

F In compliance with law.

F Contributes to higher profits.

COST OF POOR HYGIENE

Ð Food poisoning outbreaks and sometimes death.

Ð Results in food complaints, illness and fines.

Ð Food contamination and customer complaints.

Ð Pest infestations.

Ð Waste due to spoilage.

Ð The closure of food premises by local authority

Ñ Action. Fines and costs of legal action taken because

of contraventions in Hygiene Legislation, or

because of sale of unit or unsatisfactory food.

Ñ Civil action taken by food poisoning sufferers.

Ñ Loss of production and food which has to be

destroyed.

Ñ Decontamination cleaning and replacement of

damaged equipments.

Ñ Results in lower profits.

MICRO ORGANISM – THE UNSEEN ENEMY

Ï Micro organisms are microscopic in nature.

Ï They are found everywhere including ,

Ï Food

Ï Water

Ï Soil

Ï Air

Ï In and on persons

PERSONAL HYGIENE

Æ Food handlers are most frequent

source of contamination of food.

Æ It is the moral and legal responsibility

to observe high standards of personal

hygiene to prevent contamination of

food.

HANDS AND SKIN

REMEMBER ……….

Ï WASH YOUR HANDS after visiting toilets.

Ï WASH YOUR HANDS before and after work.

Ï WASH YOUR HANDS between handling raw

and cooked food.

Ï WASH YOUR HANDS after handling waste

food or refuse.

Ï WASH YOUR HANDS after eating, smoking or

blowing nose.

Ï WASH YOUR HANDS after combing or

touching the hair.

NOSE, MOUTH AND EARS

Ï People with bad cold should not handle open

food.

Ï Picking or scratching the nose should not be

done.

Ï Eating sweets, chew gum or tasting food with

the fingers or an unwashed spoon or blow

into glasses to polish them are not permitted.

JEWELLERY AND PERFUME

Ï Take off watches, brooches, jeweled rings

or earrings as they can harbor dirt and

bacteria and could drop into the food.

Ï Avoid strong smelling perfume or after

shave as these can taint foods.

HAIR

Ï Suitable head covering which completely

encloses the hair must be worn.

Ï Combing of hair and adjustments of head

covering should not be carried out whilst

wearing protective clothing, as hair may

end up on the shoulders and in the product.

SMOKING

Ï Smoking encourages coughing and droplet

infection.

Ï People touch their lips whilst smoking and

they may transfer harmful bacteria to food.

Ï Ash and cigarette ends may find their way

into food products.

Ï An unpleasant environment may be created

for non smokers.

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

Ï Food handlers must wear clean and washable

over clothing, without external pockets.

Ï Out door clothing must not be brought into food

rooms.

Ï Protective clothing should not be hung in

sanitary accommodation.

Ï Suitable foot wear must be worn. Preferably a

low heeled shoes with non slip sole and must be

kept clean.

REPORTING ILLNESS

Ï Handlers suffering from diarrhea, vomiting,

skin infection, heavy colds and discharges

from eyes or ears must not handle food.

Instead must inform their supervisors.

Ï Food handlers who excrete food poisoning

organisms must not resume food handling

duties without medical clearance.

PERSONAL HYGIENE STARTS AT HOME……………

……………AND CONTINUES THROUGH WORK

Ï Bath everyday

Ï Wash hair frequently

Ï Hair should be kept free of dandruff

Ï Clean pair of undergarments daily

Ï Brush teeth twice everyday.

PERSONAL HYGIENE FOR FOOD HANDLERS.

ü Avoid smoking before coming in to work area.

ü Hair should be covered with clean head scarf or cap

ü Avoid touching hair while at work area.

ü Nails to be kept short.

ü Nail polish should not be worn.

ü Do not wear strong perfumes as substance like fat

absorbs strong smells.

ü If suffering from infections like cold, cough or

dysentery, should report to supervisor and should not

be allowed to handle food.

ü Cuts , wound etc, should be covered with waterproof

dressing.

ü Avoid touching face or other parts as discharges from

eyes, nose are full of bacteria and would get

transferred to food.

ü Wash hands, nose and mouth before entering work area.

ü Wash hands only in washbasins not in food wash basins.

ü Avoid sneezing, coughing in the work area as bacteria

spread through droplets.

ü Spitting should be avoided at all costs.

ü Do not blow inside food to cool them,

ü Do not chew gum, paan and or paan parag.

ü Wear protective gear as per job requirement.

ü Do not taste food with fingers instead use ladles.