"An Ounce of Prevention"
Food is the fuel that powers the human body and mind. Indeed, it is believed that food is so important that "the discovery of a new dish does more for the happiness of mankind than the discovery of a star" - Anthelme Brillat-Savarin.
Food is any substance, usually of plant or animal origin that is comprised predominantly of carbohydrates, fats, water and proteins, and which can be eaten or drunk by an animal for nutrition or pleasure.
Food, or the lack thereof, determines the extent of survival of both plants and animals. Hence, our reliance on food dictates that a lot of thought be given to its preparation. While some foods are edible when raw, the majority must undergo some form of preparation for reasons of palatability and most importantly, safety. Food Safety denotes the scientific discipline describing the handling, preparation and storage of food in ways that prevent food borne illnesses.
Foods can transmit diseases among persons and also serve as a growth medium for disease-causing organisms that cause food poisoning. Food borne illness, commonly referred to as 'food poisoning' results from bacteria, viruses ,parasites (all of which are pathogenic agents) and toxins. According to www.wikipedia.com/foodsafety, approximately seven million people die of food poisoning each year with about ten times as many suffering from a non-fatal version. The two most common factors that result in cases of bacterial food borne illnesses are a cross-contamination of ready-made meals from other uncooked foods and improper temperature control. Both factors mainly results from poor food preparation and storage practices. Also, food can be adulterated by a wide range of foreign bodies during farming, manufacture, cooking, packaging and distribution. These foreign bodies may include pests or their excretions, hairs - from pets especially, and other various contaminants.
Food is the fuel that powers the human body and mind. Indeed, it is believed that food is so important that "the discovery of a new dish does more for the happiness of mankind than the discovery of a star" - Anthelme Brillat-Savarin.
Food is any substance, usually of plant or animal origin that is comprised predominantly of carbohydrates, fats, water and proteins, and which can be eaten or drunk by an animal for nutrition or pleasure.
Food, or the lack thereof, determines the extent of survival of both plants and animals. Hence, our reliance on food dictates that a lot of thought be given to its preparation. While some foods are edible when raw, the majority must undergo some form of preparation for reasons of palatability and most importantly, safety. Food Safety denotes the scientific discipline describing the handling, preparation and storage of food in ways that prevent food borne illnesses.
Foods can transmit diseases among persons and also serve as a growth medium for disease-causing organisms that cause food poisoning. Food borne illness, commonly referred to as 'food poisoning' results from bacteria, viruses ,parasites (all of which are pathogenic agents) and toxins. According to www.wikipedia.com/foodsafety, approximately seven million people die of food poisoning each year with about ten times as many suffering from a non-fatal version. The two most common factors that result in cases of bacterial food borne illnesses are a cross-contamination of ready-made meals from other uncooked foods and improper temperature control. Both factors mainly results from poor food preparation and storage practices. Also, food can be adulterated by a wide range of foreign bodies during farming, manufacture, cooking, packaging and distribution. These foreign bodies may include pests or their excretions, hairs - from pets especially, and other various contaminants.
