Food Basics 101

What exactly is the problem with food?  What are we doing that is such a threat?  A foodborne illness happens when a foodborne pathogens (disease causing microorganisms) contaminates a food product.  Most illnesses are transmitted through food in which microorganisms are able to grow rapidly.  These food are considered to be potentially hazardous food.

Foods are contaminated by humans or by the environment, and some happen naturally.  Food safety hazards are broken down into three groups (see Table 3.1):

• Biological hazards = includes certain bacteria, viruses, parasites, andfungi, as well as certain plants, mushrooms, and fish that carry harmful toxins.
• Chemical hazards = includes pesticides, food additives, preservatives, cleaning supplies, and toxic metals that leach from cookware and equipment.
• Physical hazards = consist of foreign objects that accidentally get into the food, such as hair, dirt, metal staples, and broken glass, as well as naturally occuring objects, such as bones in fillets.

What is a foodborne-illness outbreak?  This is important..."an incident in which two or more people experience the same illness after eating the same food.  A foodborne illness is confirmed when laboratory analysis shows that a specific food is the source of the illness."(ServSafe-NRAEF, 2004)  A laboratory analysis must be done to confirm an outbreak - 2 or more people.  The local health department then gets involved.

Disease-causing microorganisms are responsible for the majority of foodborne illnesses. There is a potentially higher risk for the people in the below list:

Number 1 are Young Children

Number 2 are Elderly People

Number 3 are Pregnant Women 

Number 4 are people taking medication

Number 5 are people who are ill or just recovering

Young children have not yet built up the immune system to deal with the bacterial diseases introduced into the food.   As we get older (elderly) our immune system starts breaking down.  Pregnant women are weakened by sharing their immune system with their child. 

People taking medications, such as antibiotics and immunosuppressants can have weakened immune systems.  People who are ill, those having recent major surgery, are organ transplant recipients, or have pre-existing or chronic illnesses, all have a low to non-existant immune system. 

As we grow older we already have some levels of different bacteria in our system and intestines.  We have built up a small immunity to salmonella by the amount of chicken we eat, but it is small and will not help in a full on slaught of salmonellois. 

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