Food poisoning is fast acting and is caused by eating poisonous foods. Food, including beverages, could have been poisoned by us, other people, or environmental factors.
The main cause of food poisoning is bacteria, which are microscopic organisms. They are living beings that inhabit this planet in great abundance. Most bacteria are harmless. In fact, without bacteria, it is highly doubtful that the inhabitants of this planet (animals and plants) would survive. It has been suggested that we all originated from LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor) several billion years ago. Luca evolved into different branches: Eukarya, Archaea and Bacteria. We humans are under the rule of Eurkarya. It is because of this link that scientists believe that bacteria have cellular components and functions very similar to ours.
At home, food poisoning can be controlled with good personal hygiene, such as regular hand washing and showering/bathing. Wearing protective clothing, such as an apron, while preparing food can also help prevent food poisoning. Many people prepare and cook food at home but never consider taking an online food safety training qualification to learn about the dangers of food poisoning. They may think that the courses are only for people who work in the hospitality industry.
Keep pets out of the kitchen when preparing food, as they are a major source of infection. This includes dogs, cats, pet birds, and other cute and cuddly creatures; they all harbor pathogens.
Keep raw foods away from ready-to-eat foods. All raw meat, salad greens, and soil-contaminated vegetables contain pathogens, and these can be easily transferred to ready-to-eat foods through cross-contamination. This is especially important when using barbecues. If you handle raw food, wash your hands. Do not use alcoholic or bactericidal gels for health and safety and environmental reasons. Soap and water are totally adequate.
The inner and outer containers must be kept clean, inside and out, or they will attract pests. Pests, such as birds, insects and rodents, transmit diseases other than pathogens. Make sure outer containers have tight-fitting lids. Do not leave bags outside the container as they attract pests.
Have a good cleaning regimen in the kitchen. Clean as you go is a process that is widely used in business. It is a method of preventing cross-contamination by cleaning as soon as soiling occurs.
There are many things to consider when cooking at home to stay food poisoning free; That is why it is ideal for home cooks to learn food hygiene. One method is through online food safety training.
To work in the UK catering industry, staff must pass a food safety qualification. The level of which is based on the type of work being performed.
There are four levels of qualification:
Level 2 is designed for anyone who works in a catering, manufacturing, or retail environment where food is prepared, cooked, and handled.
Level 3 is for managers, supervisors and chefs in medium and large manufacturing or catering companies.
Level 4 is for managers, supervisors, senior personal hygiene, business owners, and food hygiene trainers.
Staff working in the catering industry, such as food handlers, chefs, supervisors, managers, business owners and food hygiene trainers, have typically had to attend a training course to obtain a recognized food safety qualification. This results in time off work, finding staff to cover for absence, and loss of quality output if key staff are on course. Many companies offer food safety courses online, but they do not lead to an accredited qualification recognized by industry, environmental health departments, and educational bodies.
For a food safety qualification to be accredited in the UK, it must be recognized by Ofqual, DCELLS, CCEA and SQA and form part of the Credit and Qualifications Framework (QCF).
QCF is the framework for creating and accrediting qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It gives a wider range of students the chance to get the qualifications they need, in the way that suits them best. QCF qualifications are designed with the help of employers so students can be sure they are gaining the skills employers are looking for.
The QCF:
• recognizes smaller steps of learning and allows students to gradually build qualifications
• helps students acquire skills and qualifications that meet industry needs
• allows on-the-job training to be recognized nationally.
Qualifications recognized under the QCF attract funding.
Qualifications within the QCF will be confirmed for funding from one or more of the Agency’s delivery programs (Adult Learner Responsive Provision, Offender Skills and Service Learning, Train to Gain and Unemployed Programs)
There is only one company in the UK that offers all three levels of food hygiene qualifications that are accredited by all major educational bodies.
The benefits of online food safety training are:
Lower qualification costs compared to classroom training courses
Avoid adverse weather conditions by traveling to training courses.
Not sitting in a training room for hours on end
choose when to study
Not traveling to the course or exam
Flexibility at the end of the course.
Choose when to take the exam
No need to take time off work to study
Full access to the tutor before, during and after the course.
Therefore, there are several ways to prevent food poisoning at home by using a common sense approach to food preparation. Regular handwashing, wearing protective clothing, good housekeeping regimens, pet and pest control, waste management, and enrolling in an online food safety training course can all help.
It is time to reduce cases of food poisoning, both at home and in restaurants.