Sources of Food Poisoning
Common sources of food poisoning bacteria include:
People
People commonly harbour food poisoning bacteria in the nose, mouth, intestines, cuts and also on the skin. Food may be contaminated directly by the hands, sneezing or coughing, or indirectly by sewage-contaminated water.
Sources of Food Poisoning – Water
Only potable(drinkable) water should be used in food business for cooking/washing /cleaning etc.
Sources of Food Poisoning - Raw Food
Raw food often contains large numbers of food poisoning bacteria, especially red meat, poultry, untreated milk, raw eggs and shellfish such as oysters. Raw food should always be kept separate from ready-to-eat food. The liquid from thawing foods, especially frozen poultry must not be allowed to contaminate cleaning/holding cloths, ready-to-eat food or equipment used for ready-to-eat food.
Soil harbours harmful bacteria, and care must be taken when bringing vegetables into food rooms. Separate colour coded, clean cloths should be used for raw food and ready-to-eat food surfaces.
Insects
Several insects may transmit food poisoning bacteria to food. Flies often land on animal faeces where they pick up large numbers of bacteria on their hairy bodies. In addition, they defecate and vomit previous meals back onto food as they feed.
Cockroaches often live in the sewers and commonly feed on infected waste. They hide in the most inaccessible places in food rooms and may transfer food poisoning organisms from their legs and bodies to food and equipment on which they walk.
Rodents
Both rats and mice commonly excrete pathogens. Contamination of food may occur from droppings, urine, hairs and gnawing. Food contact surfaces on which rodents have walked must be disinfected before use. Food suspected of being contaminated by rodents must be destroyed.
Dust
There are always large numbers of bacteria in dust and floating about in the air. Open food should always be removed or covered when cleaning is carried out, especially during dusting and sweeping.
Unfit Food
Care must be taken to avoid contamination of food from waste.
Animals and Birds
Both domestic and wild animals are known to carry harmful bacteria on their bodies and in their intestines. Other incidents have occurred because of contamination of food by bird droppings.