BASIC FOOD HYGIENE CERTIFICATE

THIS IS A PUBLIC EXAMINATION COURSE WITH A 30 MINUTE EXAM AT THE END OF THE STUDY PERIOD - AND VOILA YOU HAVE THE CERTIFICATE WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO HANDLE FOOD. 

YOU NEED TO LEARN ABOUT BACTERIA, GOOD HYGIENE PRACTISE,
AND SOMETHING CALLED THE DANGER ZONE. 

To begin - what exactly is food poisoning?    It is the taking into the body something which is contaminated.    This can be either food or drink which has too many bacteria which the body cannot cope with.
How the bacteria got into the food or drink is something you will learn as we go along.

There are 'good' bacteria and 'bad' - the good are the ones that help us make yoghurt and cheeses.   The bad one are called PATHOGENIC bacteria which means they can harm a person. 

These pathogenic bacteria are a bit picky!!  They like certain things in life to keep them alive and well.   Bacteria multiply by splitting into two every 20 minutes.   So after 24 hours you can have quite a few.   If you start with a few million - after 24 hours there is a serious problem as the numbers are into billions and even trillions! 

The things they prefer are -

FOOD                                                 they like high protein foods like
                                                
MOISTURE

Water mostly -but it can be anything wet.

WARMTH   they like warmth - too hot conditions, and they die!!

TIME    remember bacteria multiply every 20 minutes

If you take any of these things away, you help to prevent the bacteria multiplying - for example, dried peas and beans keep a long time when dried:  keeping food in a freezer:  and buying,cooking and eating food within a short period of time.

 PAGE TWO 

NAME THAT BACTERIA!! 

The bacteria go in for very fancy names!    They stem from a language called Latin - which is the language still used in the medical profession.   To obtain your certificate, it is best to try and memorize at least two of the bacteria mentioned here. 

SALMONELLA 

Probably the best known of the bad bacteria.   It likes fish so remembering the salmon part may help you.  Its best like is -

CHICKEN

The chickens' plumbing tends to be rather near the meat we like to eat and if you have ever looked inside the cavity of a chicken you will see there is not a lot of room for the gut.   So bacteria find this warm cavity a super place to breed. 

You will also find salmonella on the fur of animals, for example cats, dogs, mice and rats, plus that all time favourite FLIES.

STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS 

This is present in the nose, mouth, throat and even ears of humans.
It is also found in septic cuts and sores.   Sneezing over food can mean that the bacteria is spread to the food.

BACILLUS CEREUS
The cereus part of the name means cereal and this bacteria rather likes rice.   It is also found in soil and in dust - so careful washing of fruit and vegetables is advisable.