Food borne illness are very serious and they can have very serious implications on an individual’s health. In 2011, there were 5,461,731 cases of foodborne norovirus in the United States; 14,663 of those required hospitalization. The average household expenditure on food purchased and eaten away from home was $2,620 in 2011. Following proper procedures for handling food is crucial in the restaurant industry, where food and sanitation are incredibly important, as many families eat out. If you are in the food industry, you will want to make sure your employees are properly trained and have taken a food protection course.
According to CDC’s 2011 Estimates for Foodborne Illness, there are eight known pathogens that account for the vast majority of illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths. Campylobacter is a bacterial pathogen that causes fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps, and is the world’s most commonly identified bacterial cause of diarrheal illness. E. Coli can also cause illness. Most E. coli strains are harmless (and are found as part of the naturally occuring flora of the gut), but some serotypes can cause serious food poisoning in humans. It is important to note that when perishable food is refrigerated, bacterial growth slows down dramatically, but it does not stop. When it comes to perishable foods, “the danger zone” refers to temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F, the range in which harmful bacteria multiply the fastest.
Restaurant food safety is essential. If you are in the restaurant industry, you will want to make sure that employees’ are properly trained. This includes food safety certification through a food protection course. There are some companies that offer online food safety courses, such as a food protection course, for the restaurant industry. Some companies offer fully functional dashboards that monitors all food safety sanitation training activity, allowing you to track employee progress and scores, manage training procedures, account for all credits and training expenses, print completion certificates, provide seamless access to a library of resources, and furnish access to a PR kit and tools in conjunction with support programs. Overall, food safety is essential in the food service industry. Ensure that your employees are properly trained and have taken a food protection course. Read this website for more information.