Sep 27, 2022
Now, More than Ever, Food Safety Matters
Safety Tips.
September is National Food Safety Education Month. This is a great opportunity to learn about the ways that you can keep yourself safe and healthy when it comes to food preparation and consumption.
The FDA Food Code
The FDA food code was established in order to prevent food-borne illnesses and to set up best practices for individuals and restaurants to follow so that they can keep patrons safe.
The FDA also completes unannounced food establishment inspections to ensure that all protocols are being followed correctly.
Risk Factors
The FDA names five major risk factors that contribute to food-borne illness. These are:
- Improper holding temperatures
- Undercooked food
- Contaminated equipment
- Unsafe food sources
- Poor hygiene
What you can do
Restaurants can minimize these risk factors and protect patrons by:
- Demonstrating knowledge of food safety practices
- Employee health controls
- Controlling hygiene and hand cleanliness
- Establishing time and temperature parameters
- Providing consumer advisories
How to address food-borne illness
If you or someone you know contracts a food-borne illness, it is important to know when to seek medical advice. Generally, food-borne illnesses cause minor symptoms including:
If these symptoms become severe or you are unable to keep any food or liquids down, contact your doctor for guidance in order to avoid dehydration and other complications.
The best way to prevent food-borne illnesses is to learn about the risk factors and work together to promote food safety.
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