WHITE PAPER Guidance on the use of Colour-Coding to improve food safety and quality Acknowledgement - Vikan would like to formally acknowledge the original white paper, published by Remco Products Corporation, on which this version is based. UNDERSTANDING THE HAZARDS THAT CAN AFFECT FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY FOOD-BORNE DISEASE The greatest risk to food safety is from food-borne diseases. In the European Union (EU), over 320,000 human cases are reported each year, but the real number is likely to be much higher (1).The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that, worldwide, there are 600 million cases of food borne illnesses and and more than 420,000 deaths annually (2). Food-borne diseases are caused by consuming food or drink contaminated by pathogenic (disease-causing) micro-organisms, such as bacteria (and their toxins), viruses and parasites. Many of these micro-organisms are commonly found in the environment, on raw fruit and vegetables, and in the intestines of healthy food-producing animals(3). They enter the human body via contaminated food and drink, and are then present in the gastrointestinal tract where the first symptoms often occur (stomach cramps, vomiting etc.). From here some can enter the bloodstream and travel around the body to affect organs such as the kidneys, liver and heart. Consequently, the severity of a food-borne disease in humans can vary from mild symptoms to life-threatening conditions. The risks of contamination are present from farm to fork and require prevention and control throughout the food chain. For those concerned with protecting food safety and/or working in the food processing industry the significance of food-borne disease is of particular concern. The most common micro-organisms that cause food borne diseases are; Bacteria • Campylobacter, Salmonella, Listeria, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Yersinia Bacterial toxins • Toxins of Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium botulinum and Bacillus cereus Viruses • Calicivirus (including norovirus), rotavirus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus Parasites • Trichinella, Toxoplasma, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia Copyright © 2019 Vikan A/S · All Rights Reserved
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