Food Hygiene
Food hygiene involves being careful while
- Preparing
- Storing
- Cooking
- Serving food
This protects your health and wellbeing.
Food Spoilage
Food will stay fresh for only a limited amount of time.
Eventually, it will spoil or go bad.
Food spoilage occurs more quickly if food is:
- Not stored correctly
- Prepared in a dirty kitchen
- Handled by a person who is careless or unhygienic
Food Spoilage occurs because of :
1. Enzymes
- These are chemicals naturally present in fruit and vegetables that cause the food to ripen.
- After harvesting, the enzymes continue to ripen the food.
- Eventually, the food becomes overripe and then begins to decay.
2. Microorganisms
- These are tiny living organisms such as bacteria, yeasts and moulds.
- They are present everywhere, for example in soil, water, and in humans
- Some microorganisms can cause food poisoning.
The Growth Conditions of Microorganisms are:
- Food
- Warmth
- Moisture
- Oxygen
- Time