Medical Health Encyclopedia

Food safety


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Definition

Food safety refers to the conditions and practices that preserve the quality of food to prevent contamination and foodborne illnesses.


Alternative Names

Food - hygiene and sanitation


Function

Food can be contaminated in many different ways. Some food products may already contain bacteria or parasites. The germs can be spread during the packaging process if the food products are not handled properly. Failure to cook or store the food properly can cause further contamination.

Properly handling and preparing food greatly reduces the risks of getting foodborne illnesses.



Review Date: 04/27/2010
Reviewed By: Daniel Levy, MD, Infectious Disease, Maryland Family Care, Lutherville, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).




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