Written By: Debjani Arora | Published : April 4, 2015 9:51 AM IST
April 7 is World Health Day and this year's theme is Food Safety.
As per the World Health Organization, contaminated food can cause more than 200 diseases foodborne and waterborne diseases that cause diarrhoea and are estimated to kill 2 million people each year worldwide. Food safety, nutrition and food security are inextricably linked. Unsafe food can lead to various health problems like dairrhoeal disease, viral disease, reproductive and developmental problems and even cancers.
Why food contamination can be a silent killer
Bacteria are the source of many food borne illnesses. This is usually due to improper food handling or cooking procedures. In small amounts, they are not harmful however the trouble begins when certain bacteria and other harmful pathogens multiply and spread. Contaminated food may not look, taste or smell any different from foods that are safe to eat. Here is how your kitchen container could make you sick.
From production to consumption, there are several potential areas of food contamination. Foods, such as fruits and vegetables, maybe contaminated if washed or irrigated with water that is contaminated with pathogens from animal or human faeces. Animals naturally harbour many food-borne bacteria in their intestines that can cause illness in humans, but often do not cause illness in the animals. Most food-borne pathogens are shed in the faeces of infected persons and may transfer to others through food via the faecal-oral route. Here are four ways in which our foods get contaminated before they reach our plate.
Why should we worry?
According to Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, World Health Organization, South-East Asia Region, Foodborne illnesses are usually either infectious or toxic in nature. These illnesses may occur through the consumption of food or water contaminated by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances. Foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli, or Campylobacter can cause severe illnesses or even death. Chemical contamination can lead to acute poisoning or long-term diseases such as cancer.
Another route is cross-contamination where pathogens naturally present in one food may be transferred to other foods during food preparation if same cooking equipment and utensils are used without washing and disinfecting in between. Inadequate cooking temperature and improper storage, that food held or stored at warm (10-50 C) also allows bacteria to multiply and produce toxins within the food. Here is why you should consume your packaged foods before they reach their expiry date.
How can it be prevented?
The WHO experts have enumerated five key points for safer food. Here is how you can save yourself from food contamination:
#1. Keep clean:
#2. Keep raw and cooked foods separately:
#3. Cook thoroughly:
#4. Keep food at safe temperatures:
#5. Use safe water and raw materials:
Image source: Getty Images
For more articles on diseases & conditions, visit our diseases & conditions section. For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter.
