Final answer:
Food can become unsafe through poor hygiene, cross-contamination, and improper temperature control, which can lead to foodborne diseases. Maintaining good personal hygiene, avoiding cross-contamination, and correctly controlling the temperature of stored foods are key practices to ensure food safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of how food can become unsafe is through improper handling, preparation, or storage, leading to contamination. This can occur via three main pathways: poor hygiene leading to microbial contamination, cross-contamination between foods, and failure of temperature control to prevent bacterial growth.
Three Common Ways Food Becomes Contaminated:
- Poor hygiene, such as not washing hands before handling food, can introduce bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli.
- Cross-contamination, which is the transfer of bacteria from raw foods, like poultry, to ready-to-eat foods, possibly via cutting boards or utensils.
- Incorrect temperature control, such as not refrigerating foods at the right temperature, can allow bacteria to grow to dangerous levels.
Food Safety Practices at Home:
- Meticulous handwashing.
- Keeping the refrigerator at the recommended temperature to slow bacterial growth.
- Cleaning and sanitizing surfaces and utensils after they have been in contact with raw foods.
Foodborne diseases like botulism, listeriosis, and salmonellosis have been historically associated with contaminated foods, despite advancements in food safety. It is essential to follow proper food handling procedures to prevent these illnesses.