Page 44 - Food And Human

Form One

Hygiene in food preparation and cooking
Kitchen hygiene is important in maintaining food safety and preventing the spread
of infectious diseases. Proper hygiene in the kitchen helps to ensure that the food is
prepared and handled safely, reducing the risk of food contamination and the growth
of harmful micro-organisms. Therefore, one should consider kitchen, personal and
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food hygiene when preparing, cooking and serving food.

Kitchen hygiene: This refers to the cleanliness of kitchen surfaces and equipment
and the proper disposal of kitchen refuse to avoid food contamination. A dirty
kitchen produces an unpleasant smell and encourages the growth and multiplication
of germs and pests, which are dangerous to health; they cause diseases. A dirty
kitchen may cause falling down accidents due to spillage of water, oil or food on
the kitchen fl oor. To keep the kitchen clean and hygienic, one should observe the
following rules:
(a) Ensure the kitchen is well-ventilated to avoid bad smells and pests.

(b) Wash all utensils immediately after use and dry them accordingly.
(c) Clean all areas, including working surfaces with soap and water whenever
it is dirty.
(d) Sweep and mop the fl oor often as the kitchen gets greasy and dirty.

(e) Often wash kitchen cloths with soap and warm water, dry them in the sun
and iron them to kill germs.
(f) Inspect the kitchen for any plumbing leaks all the time to ensure proper
drainage.
(g) Wrap all the refuse before throwing it into the bin.

(h) Use a covered waste bin to dispose of kitchen waste. Empty the bin regularly
to prevent odours and pests. Clean and disinfect the waste bin occasionally.

Food hygiene: Food hygiene refers to conditions and measures which make food
safe for consumption. The food should be prepared, cooked and stored properly to
avoid contamination and poisoning. The following are the points to consider in food
hygiene:
(a) Cover or wrap the food well before storing it in a cool and proper place so
that it does not attract pests and pets. Household pets carry microorganisms
which may contaminate food in the kitchen.

(b) Use separate cutting boards for raw and cooked foods such as meat, poultry
and vegetables to avoid cross-contamination.

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