Tag Archives: food safety

FAT TOM and Food Safety

FAT TOM is a mnemonic device used in the food service industry to describe the six favorable conditions required for the growth of foodborne pathogens.
Understanding the optimal conditions for bacterial growth can potentially help you reduce your risk for bacterial infections and food poisoning.

Seafood Safety on National Go Fishing Day

National Go Fishing Day is observed annually on June 18 and is the perfect day for anglers to escape from their daily routine – find a stream, a lake, or pond – bait the hook, cast the line, and catch a fish!
Despite its spelling, seafood includes all aquatic animals, both freshwater and ocean creatures. Seafood, as with any food, requires certain safe handling to reducing the risk of foodborne illness.

Introduction to Chemical Food Hazards

Chemical hazard contaminants can occur in food from a variety of sources. The origin of these toxic substances can be drugs, food additives, pesticides, industrial chemicals, environmental pollutants and natural toxins.
Different from biological hazards, which may cause food illness symptoms for a short period of time, the long-term effects of food chemical toxins are of a prime concern.

Introduction to Biological Food Hazards

Biological food hazards are biological agents that can pose a threat to human health and include bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Bacteria and viruses are responsible for most foodborne illnesses and are the biggest threat to food safety.
The most common result of infections from biological agents is gastroenteritis – inflammation of the stomach and small intestine. Also called the “stomach flu”, gastroenteritis is generally acquired through consumption of contaminated food or water, or through direct contact with an object, surface, or person – as a result of poor sanitation and/or hygiene.

World Food Safety Day

The first-ever World Food Safety Day, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, will be celebrated on 7 June 2019 under the theme “Food Safety, everyone’s business”.
The new annual observance will draw attention to stopping the roughly 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses that occur each year – and inspire action to help prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks – that affect human health, economic prosperity, and sustainable development.