I can remember vividly the very first time I had to visit a farm during one of our practical sessions in school. We were taken to a tomato farm, we saw them, the ripe and unripe ones, those under the sun, some soft and all. And then someone asked the man why some were the way they are and why he didn't take them to a more cooler place, guess what the man said, he said, "they will sell anyways." Immediately I saw this prompt, my mind went back to that day and I must tell you a little bit lesson about food safety that we may not know, and it is the fact that Our foods can be spoiled long before they even get to our plates.
So, What is food safety? As an agriculturist, I would say Food safety is keeping food clean and safe all the way from the farm to our kitchen. It's not your regular definition, but that's it. Food safety starts with how crops are grown to how they are being irrigated and to harvesting. Then it extends more to storage, transport and then cooking. Why I had to mention all of those steps is because each one of it matters. If you neglect or take one with levity then be sure you can turn your meal into a poison.
One of the most important thing about food is the storage. If you leave your food, dairy products, fruits and the likes exposed or stored in damp/warm places then be sure to know you've opened them to bacterias that can cause food poisoning, diarrhea or even worse and sincerely that's you putting your life and health at risk.
Another thing I would love to point out is personal hygiene, it's not something that should be waved off in anyway. You can't just handle edibles anyhow and in anyhow environment. Simple things like washing of hands, wearing clean clothes, covering mouth when sneezing and the likes go a long way in protecting those who consume the food. It's not just habits. A lot of people don't know this simple things, but sincerely a careless touch or act can undo all of the utmost care taken during growth, storage and cooking of a food. Now when you eat and feel discomfort, it might not be an issue with all of those processes, it might just be that person who sneezed while checking what was covered in the flask or someone who just refused to cover up the cooler after taking his/her own dish.
We can't discuss this and leave out water, no, it plays a huge role too. If you've ever been to the farm or market you can testify to the kind of waters this vegetables are being washed in. Even when we cook, make use of clean water, and drink same too.
Also, we should try as much as possible also to keep/separate cooked foods from raw ones. Storing or keeping them together or near each other helps spread germs quickly. When they say boil your water, it goes beyond rules, it's for your health sake, it saves life's, when they say keep your perishables in the fridge and you didn't, you go back to where you just place it, taste or smell it and you assume it's still good for consumption. You are not helping yourself, when they say cook your meat and all thoroughly, it's goes beyond rules.
Food safety happen to be a chain of responsibilities, right from the farm till it gets to your plate. Each and every stages from there(farm) needs attention and care.
In conclusion, taking your time to cook good food, handle it well and store it well is love in action, it's loving yourself and loving those that would partake in it. We must make sure to eat safe, to eat what will nourish and not harm our health. It is we respecting and making our health and life a priority.
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