Food Contamination

Back to: Pre Vocational Studies Primary 5

Welcome to class!

Hello, my careful student! I’m so happy to have you back for another very important lesson. Today, we’re going to talk about “food contamination.” This means when food becomes unsafe to eat because it has been mixed with harmful things. It’s like when clean water gets dirty and you can’t drink it anymore. Let’s begin!

Food Contamination

Food contamination is a serious issue because eating contaminated food can cause food poisoning, which can make you very sick. There are different types of food contamination:

1. Biological Contamination: This happens when food is contaminated with living things called microorganisms, like bacteria, viruses, or parasites.

• Bacteria: These are tiny organisms that can multiply quickly in food and produce toxins (poisons) that can make you sick.4 Examples of bacteria that can cause food poisoning include Salmonella (found in raw eggs and poultry) and E. coli (found in raw or undercooked meat).
• Viruses: These are even smaller than bacteria and can also cause food poisoning. Examples include norovirus and hepatitis A.
• Parasites: These are organisms that live on or inside other organisms. Examples include tapeworms and roundworms.

2. Chemical Contamination: This happens when food is contaminated with harmful chemicals.

• Pesticides: These are chemicals used to kill pests on crops. If they are not used properly, they can contaminate food.
• Cleaning Agents: If cleaning agents are not rinsed off properly from cooking tools and equipment, they can contaminate food.
• Heavy Metals: These are metals like lead and mercury that can contaminate food through polluted water or soil.

3. Physical Contamination: This happens when food is contaminated with physical objects.

• Hair: Hair can fall into food during preparation or cooking.15
• Dirt and Dust: Dirt and dust can contaminate food if it is not stored or handled properly.
• Insects: Insects can contaminate food by crawling on it or laying eggs on it.
• Pieces of Glass or Metal: These can accidentally get into food during processing or packaging.

How Food Gets Contaminated:

Food can get contaminated at any stage of the food chain, from the farm to your plate:

• On the farm: Crops can be contaminated by pesticides or contaminated water. Animals can be contaminated by bacteria or parasites.
• During processing: Food can be contaminated during processing, packaging, or transportation.
• In the kitchen: Food can be contaminated during preparation, cooking, or storage.

Preventing Food Contamination:

There are many things we can do to prevent food contamination:

• Practice good hygiene: Wash your hands thoroughly before handling food.23
• Keep surfaces clean: Clean countertops, cutting boards, and utensils regularly.24
• Separate raw and cooked foods: Use different cutting boards and utensils for raw and cooked foods.
• Cook food thoroughly: Cook food to the proper temperature to kill harmful microorganisms.25
• Store food properly: Store food in airtight containers in the refrigerator or freezer.26
• Use safe water: Use clean, safe water for cooking and drinking.

Let’s use some examples. Eating undercooked chicken can cause food poisoning because it may contain Salmonella bacteria (biological contamination). If a farmer uses too much pesticide on their vegetables, it can cause chemical contamination. If a piece of glass breaks into a jar of jam during packaging, it causes physical contamination.

So, to summarize, food contamination happens when food becomes unsafe to eat because it has been mixed with harmful things. There are three main types of food contamination: biological, chemical, and physical. Practicing good food safety habits can help to prevent food contamination.

Evaluation 

1. Can you name the three main types of food contamination? 
2. Can you give an example of how food can become biologically contaminated? 
3. Can you give an example of how food can become physically contaminated? 

Excellent! You’re doing a fantastic job! I’m so proud of your learning. 

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