Food safety is essential and fundamental to better health.
Being negligent with the hygiene and safety of our food can have serious consequences for us.
For greater food security, you must:
1. Ensure hygiene and cleanliness
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Wash your hands before you start preparing food and frequently throughout the process.
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Sanitize all equipment, utensils and surfaces used in food preparation.
2. Separate raw food from cooked food
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Separate raw meat and fish from other foods.
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Use different equipment and utensils, such as knives and cutting boards, for raw and cooked food.
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You should cook food well, especially meat, eggs and fish.
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Soups and stews should be cooked at a temperature above 70ºC.
In the case of meat, make sure the edges are light and not red.
3. Keeping food at safe temperatures
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Do not leave cooked food at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
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Refrigerate cooked or perishable food quickly.
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Don’t store food for too long, even in the fridge.
4. Use safe water and raw materials
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Use drinking water or treat it to make it safe.
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Choose varied and fresh food.
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Wash fruit and vegetables, especially if they are eaten raw.
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Do not use food that has expired.
HACCP system
Bearing this in mind, it is also essential to talk about the HACCP system (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), a mandatory system for all companies in the food sector involved in any stage of the production, processing, storage and/or distribution of foodstuffs (see Article 3(2) of Regulation no. 178/2002 of January 28).
Why is it important to have the HACCP system developed?
Effective control of food hygiene and safety is essential to avoid illness and other consequences caused by food spoilage.
These consequences can be unpleasant at best and fatal at worst.
In addition, poor food hygiene entails major costs and negatively influences customer and consumer confidence.
In short, food safety is becoming increasingly important for the end consumer, but also for the food producer, distributor and supplier.
And, of course, for the supervisory bodies.
Occupational Health and Safety companies that offer the HACCP – Food Safety service can provide advice on implementing the system, as is the case with SEPRI.
