Food Safety:"How safe is the food on your plate?"

Everyone plays an important role in food safety; from farmers to food industry production-line workers to the cook at your very own home. It is essential to ensure the safety of food to prevent food-borne illness. Here are some tips on food safety!

Buying

• Check both production and/or expiry date
• Ensure that there is no default in packaging (eg: dented cans, unsealed)
• Appearence and quality of food should also be checked.
• In the industry, always check the product specification and Certificate of Analysis (CoA)

Storage

• Always follow the first-in-first-out(FIFO) rule
• Store food products at proper storage temperature
• Never store raw food product next to ready-to-eat food

In the industry

• Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) has been designed to ensure the safety of food in the food industry. It ensures food safety through biological, chemical and physical hazard identification and control in the production process.

Personal care

• Hands must ALWAYS be clean, washed or gloved when handling food
• Hairnet and/or face mask should be used
• Dont wear jewelleries or any body-accesories during the preparation of food product
• Dont be involved in the production of food if you are sick or feeling unwell

Work Area

• CLEAN
• Promptly wash any equipments after use

Production

• Food should not be left exposed for long
• Cook or prepare food at the right temperature and time

Remember, food safety is prevent microbiological, chemical and physical cross-contamination. Not only does the shelf-life of food greatly depend upon it, consumers too!

-know what you eat-