Final answer:
Biotechnological methods enhance food safety and freshness by utilizing preservatives and genetic modifications to inhibit spoilage and improve nutritional value. They play a significant role in reducing foodborne illnesses and ensuring the large-scale production of safer foods.
Step-by-step explanation:
Biotechnological methods of preserving and storing food play a crucial role in ensuring food safety by utilizing innovative techniques to maintain or improve the safety and freshness of food. These methods include the use of preservatives such as antioxidants, which prevent fats and oils from becoming rancid and protect cut fresh fruits from browning when exposed to air. Moreover, through genetic modification, developers aim to reduce adverse elements like saturated fats and allergens, and to boost beneficial nutrients that fight disease.
When we consider the nutritional aspect, biotechnology enables the fortification of food through the addition of vitamins and minerals, thus maintaining or improving the nutritional value. Osmotic pressure through high concentrations of sugar in jams and jellies, or salt in meats, inhibits bacterial growth by dehydration or creating an inhospitable environment for microbes to multiply.
With better sterilization and canning procedures, the incidence of foodborne illnesses such as botulism has been substantially reduced. Consequently, biotechnological methods contribute not only to longer-lasting foods but also enhance food safety on a large scale.