MEAT AND HUMAN HEALTH.

Human health is impacted by various factors hinged on animal health. It has been discovered that 60% of diseases in humans are caused by pathogens of animal origin,hence animal health is really human health. 

The various animal pathogen can affect man through consumption of their products and byproducts,hence proper handling,processing and packaging are very essential. Food handling plays a vital role in food safety and every protocol to ensure that meat is wholesome and fit for human consumption must be put in place.

The health status of the animals from the farm to slaughter is very important and must be addressed.Adequate inspection of carcasses in abattoirs is key to meat safety and consumption of wholesome meat and meat products . 

 Meat presented for sale must be clean,odorless,with no swellings/pus exuding.Meat must be hygienically processed and packaged before being adjudged wholesome and fit for human consumption. 

These pictures show diseased animal organs that should never be consumed,but condemned and discarded. MEAT AND HUMAN HEALTH.

AGRIBUSINESS: FOOD SAFETY IN THE MEAT INDUSTRY..

             FOOD SAFETY IN THE MEAT INDUSTRY.

.Food safety is of paramount importance in meat industry;handling,processing,packaging and storage are hazard analysis critical points(HACCP).Food safety deals with protocol/procedure that are employed to prevent food borne illness,which are usually fatal.

                   FOOD SAFETY IN THE MEAT INDUSTRY. 

 Food safety in meat industry actually begins on the farm where these animals are raised; the feeding,medication and management practice play vital roles in the quality of meat that is processed and sold.

The animals are fed on balanced rations,given required vaccination and medication.The animals are not raised on growth promoters or other hormones that impact human health,and all drugs administered must have been completely expelled from system before slaughter.

 FOOD SAFETY IN THE MEAT INDUSTRY. The animals presented for slaughter must be healthy,and certified fit by veterinarian at antemortem inspection.Sick,debilitated and pregnant animals are not to be slaughtered.

 The animals are to be slaughtered in a clean facility with clean water source,the food processors must be well equipped to prevent transfer of microorganism to the carcass.Water plays a vital role in the abattoir because its the medium used to clean the carcasses,floors,drains and working area.The carcass is duly inspected and diseased parts are condemned,or in some cases the entire carcass is condemned.

 Hand washing is very important; hands should be washed at intervals during processing to prevent food borne illness.Food can easily be contaminated during transportation and storage,hence proper cooling vans must be used in transporting meat,and these must be stored at right temperature to prevent growth of bacteria.


 Meat presented for sale must have following qualities;1) clean. 2) have no odor/foul smell. 3) have no lumps,pustules or swellings . 4) must not have holes/tunnel with flukes ,5)must not discharge any fluid/pus 6) must no give off any color-tinged fluid when pressed 7) must maintain original color. 

When meat is processed  it must be done at proper temperature,exposure of meat to environmental elements such as dust,flies, and excessive exposure to sun affect the quality of meat with resultant impact on human health.

  When next you are in the meat market , check it out properly before you buy.

FOOD SAFETY.

Food safety refers to methods,procedures and protocols that are practiced in food industry.These procedures/protocol are put in place during processing, packaging and transportation. Food safety is very important to human health because it prevents food-borne diseases that could be fatal.Food safety prevents hazards in food that cause injury,illness and sometimes death.These hazards could be physical,biological or chemical in nature , found in food and drinks, have varying impacts on human health.The susceptibility of individuals to these hazards vary with children being major subjects followed by elderly older than 65, then pregnant women and lastly immune compromised individuals. The physical hazard include stones,broken glass,plastic cuts,jewelry,rings,pieces of fabric(shredding table cloth ) and boards e.t.c.The hazard usually occur during processing,packing and storage.The food processors are usually the major cause of these form of hazard; the work unit,tools and personal hygiene have all being pinned as sources of food hazard. Chemical hazard include poisonous substances,chemicals ,soaps,detergents or cleaning liquids that are spilled during food processing.Pesticides,rodenticides and paints have also being fingered as hazard in food industry. Biological hazards are microorganism ,which include bacteria,viruses and parasites.The parasites are usually tiny worms in beef,pork and fish; these parasites are usually found in contaminated water,used in processing.Bacteria grow in food under certain conditions such as low temperatures,fecal contamination,or cross contamination which result in food spoilage and food borne illness.These bacteria contaminate food during processing handling and storage. Viruses in food usually contaminate food during processing ,these are usually from food processors that are coughing,sneezing,and picking nose.These can be prevented by maintaining high level of hygiene by food processors. Food borne illness can be prevented by implementing the following ;1) high standard of personal hygiene. 2)temperature control. 3) preventing of cross contamination between various food items. 4)cleaning of utensils,working area and cutting boards. 5) proper packaging and storage. Personal hygiene will include washing hands before handling meat,after using toilet and after handling various raw food.The food processor must not wear jewelry and accessories that can easily drop off during production, nails must be cut short and clean,hair must be covered and neat clean clothing must be worn. The processor must wear clean overall,gloves and clean working shoes.The health status of food processors play a vital role in the level of safety of the food ,hence processors that are ill, coughing,sneezing, vomiting or have diarrhea should not handle food.Food operators must undergo regular checkup to ascertain health status,any case tuberculosis,hepatitis,HIV/AIDS should be reported. Hand washing plays an important role in food safety and the benefits cannot be overemphasized; hand washing removes microorganisms and should be done throughout the day.