FOOD SAFETY AND

STORAGE
Junior Certificate Home Economics

© PDST Home Economics

 FOOD SAFETY AND STORAGE
 If foods are not preserved in some way, they will
deteriorate or go off.

 Which banana would you prefer to eat? Why?

 CAUSES OF FOOD
SPOILAGE
 Fruit and vegetables spoil over time because of
the presence of enzymes. These are chemicals
that occur naturally in food and cause it to ripen
and eventually decay. Bruising is caused by the
release of enzymes when a fruit is damaged. This
speeds up the rate of decay.
 Spoilage may also be caused by micro-organisms
such as moulds, yeasts and bacteria. These
cause the food to break down, rot or go sour.
The food may then discolour, smell bad or
become sticky and slimy.
 MOULDS
 These appear like whiskers or soft
cotton wool on food. To grow, they
require warmth, moisture and air.
They are killed by sunlight.
Advantages of moulds:
 Moulds are used to make antibiotics, e.g.
penicillin.
 They are used to make blue cheeses, e.g. Cashel
blue, and soft cheeses, e.g. Camembert.
Disadvantages of moulds:
 They spoil the appearance and

taste of food.
 YEASTS
 Yeasts are larger than bacteria and grow on
foods containing moisture and sugar, such as
fruit, fruit juices and syrups. They are not as
visible as moulds but they may produce an
alcoholic taste in foods. They are killed by heat.
Advantages of yeasts:
 Yeasts are used in bread-making, brewing (beer)
and wine-making.
 Yeasts produce vitamin supplements.

Disadvantages of yeast:
 Yeasts affect the taste and texture of foods.
 BACTERIA (GERMS)
 Bacteria are invisible to the naked eye. They are
found everywhere -on our skin, in our bodies, in
the air, in sinks and worktops and on our clothes.
In small amounts most bacteria are harmless.
This is known as 'an acceptable level of
contamination'.
Bacteria is the plural of bacterium.
Advantages of bacteria:
 Bacteria are used to make cheese, yoghurt and
vinegar.
Disadvantages of bacteria:
 They cause food spoilage, food poisoning and
other diseases.
 CONDITIONS FOR GROWTH
 Micro-organisms, such as bacteria, need food,
warmth, moisture and time to grow and
multiply.
 FOOD
 Bacteria thrive on moist high-protein foods.
 WARMTH
 The ideal temperature for most bacteria is

30-45°C.
Boiling kills most bacteria and cold temperatures
slow down their growth.
Freezing does not kill bacteria.
 MOISTURE

 Bacteria thrive best in damp conditions and in moist

foods.
 TIME

 When the correct conditions for growth are

present, bacteria can double in number every 10
to 20 minutes, so that in about six hours 1 million
could be produced from just one bacterium!
 HOW FOOD BECOMES
INFECTED BY BACTERIA
 People carry bacteria in the intestine, nose,
mouth and on the hands, particularly if they do
not wash after using the toilet or handling pets.
Cross-contamination
 Cross-contamination occurs when unaffected
food becomes contaminated by bacteria from
another food, e.g. raw and cooked meat on the
same board.
 Food handlers must be very careful about
personal hygiene. One should not work with
food if suffering from an infectious disease.
 Separate colour-coded chopping boards
should be used to avoid cross-contamination.
 INSECTS

 Insects carry dirt and bacteria on their legs.

When they land on food, they vomit and excrete
on it as they eat.
 PETS AND VERMIN

 Pets, rats and mice also carry bacteria and

should be kept out of the kitchen and away from
food.
 KITCHEN CLOTHS AND DIRTY
KITCHEN UTENSILS

 These provide a breeding ground for bacteria,

particularly if used cloths are left in a warm
kitchen.
 FOOD POISONING
Food poisoning is an illness caused by ingesting
(eating or drinking) food or drink which has been
contaminated by large numbers of pathogenic
(disease-causing) bacteria. The symptoms are
stomach pains, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting.

The following are some of the most

common food-poisoning bacteria.
 SALMONELLA
 This is present in the intestines of animals and
humans. It is spread by flies and vermin and by
poor standards of personal hygiene. It is
essential that hands are washed after using the
lavatory in order to avoid salmonella. Meat,
poultry, eggs and shellfish may be contaminated.
 STAPHYLOCOCCI

 These bacteria are found in the nose, throat,

skin and in cuts and boils. It is essential that
food handlers cover any cuts and do not cough or
sneeze over food to avoid the spread of
Staphylococci. Unpasteurised milk and cold
meats may be affected.
 LISTERIA

 This may grow and multiply in chilled foods, as it

prefers lower temperatures. It may contaminate
poultry, pate, soft cheeses, coleslaw, pre-cooked
chilled meals and chilled pre-packed salads.
Pregnant women should avoid these foods, as
listeria may cause miscarriage.
 E.COLI

 This is found in the intestines of animals and

humans. High standards of hygiene and thorough
cooking of foods are essential to prevent E. coli
poisoning. Foods most at risk include
undercooked minced beef and beef burgers,
salami, unpasteurised milk, cheese and yoghurt.
 FOOD GUIDELINES
FoodHygiene
 Keep all foods cool, clean and covered. Store
perishables in a cool place. Check expiry dates on
perishables.
 Keep raw and cooked meats separate to avoid
cross-contamination.
 Use separate chopping boards for raw and cooked
foods.
 Cook eggs, meat, fish and poultry thoroughly to kill
bacteria.
 Thaw frozen meat and poultry thoroughly before
cooking.
 Cool and cover leftovers, and refrigerate.

 Reheat leftovers until piping hot to ensure that all

bacteria are destroyed.
Food handler
 Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene.

 Wash hands before handling food and after

handling rubbish, using a tissue, using the toilet or
handling pets.
 Cover or tie back hair and wear a clean apron.

 Handle food as little as possible.

 Avoid touching face or hair while preparing food.

 Keep fingernails clean and short. Do not wear nail

varnish.
 Do not cough or sneeze over food.

 Avoid wearing rings, earrings or watches when

preparing food.
 Taste food with a clean spoon. Do not lick fingers.

 Cover any cuts or burns with a waterproof

dressing.
 THE KITCHEN
 The kitchen should be well designed, with adequate
lighting and ventilation.
 Ensure that a plentiful supply of hot water and
cleaning materials are available.
 All work surfaces and equipment should be regularly
washed and disinfected.
 Kitchen cloths are an ideal breeding ground for
bacteria. They should be changed daily and
disinfected often. Use separate cloths for kitchen
and bathroom.
 Keep kitchen bin covered. Empty daily and disinfect
once a week.
 Disinfect sink and draining board regularly.
 Keep pets out of kitchen at all times.
 Sweep kitchen floor daily and wash and disinfect
regularly.
 FOOD STORAGE
 It is essential to store food properly to ensure
that it remains in prime condition for as long as
possible.

Proper storage:
 protects food from flies and dust.
 prolongs its shelf life.
 makes finding the food easier in the kitchen.
 ensures that the kitchen is clean and well
organised.
 The shelf life of a food is the length of time a
food remains safe and fit to be eaten.
 GUIDELINES FOR STORAGE
1. Store foods correctly according to their type.
 Non-perishables, e.g. dry, bottled and tinned
foods. Store in a cupboard on their own or in
airtight containers.
 Semi-perishables, e.g. bread, cakes, fresh fruit
and vegetables. Store breads and cakes in a
bread bin or tin. Fruit and vegetables may be
stored in a rack or basket. Some semi-
perishables, e.g. salad vegetables, may be stored
in the refrigerator.
 Perishables, e.g. eggs, milk, cream, fresh meat,
frozen or fresh 'ready to cook' meals, etc.These
have the shortest shelf life and must be used
within three or four days. Store in the
refrigerator at 4°C.
 Frozen: Store in the freezer at -18°C.
 GUIDELINES FOR STORAGE
 Note the 'best before' and 'use by' dates
on perishables.
 Use up older foods before opening new ones.

 Store foods away from cleaning agents.

 Keep cupboards and storage containers clean to

prevent contamination by bacteria.
 Once packages are opened, store dry foods like
rice and pasta in airtight containers to prevent
them from becoming stale or infested by insects.
 Never refreeze thawed frozen food.
 PACKAGING MATERIALS
Many disposable and reusable materials are
available for storing foods.

 Disposable packaging, such as greaseproof

paper and cling film, should only be used once,
as they cannot be cleaned thoroughly after use.
 Plastic, china, glass and tin containers may be
reusable. Some have sealable lids to prevent
food drying out.