THE NEED for PROPER FOOD HYGIENE in the SOCIETY

The importance of food in the sustenance of individual cannot be overemphasised. Food provides the needed energy for various body activities including movement, singing, reading, jumping, dancing,working among others.It also supplies the nutrients, which help in the normal growth and development of the body.

The way and manner in which foods are handled in the society nowadays, leaves much to be desired. There is need for prioper food hygiene for it to achieve its purpose in the body and to avoid the spread of diseases in the society.Food hygiene is therefore aimed at preventing the contamination of foodstuffs at all stages of their production, including the collection, preparation, manufacture, transportation,storage and sale.

Proper food hygiene can be achieved through the control of primary source of food. It is a norm in the society nowadays for animal / human manure to be added to soil to improve the yield of crop plants grown on it, particularly when people cannot afford the cost of fertilisers. The habit of adding manure to soil encourages the contamination of foodstuffs, particularly the vegetables, which can be transmitted to those that consume them. There is therefore the need for avoidance of the use of manure on soil.

Abbatoirs are places where Cattle and other animals are slaughtered to produce meat for people, particularly the food sellers. Many of these abbatoirs operate in an unhygienic environment thus giving room for the contamination of the animals therein. There is therefore the need for regular inspection of abbatoirs in the society.

There should be regular and thorough supervision of the food handlers e.g the carriers in the society. Adequate health education for people, particularkly the foodhandlers would further help in achieving proper food hygiene.

In addition, there should be proper laboratory examination of foodstuffs to avoid contamination while the Government of each country should make and enforce laws to regulate the handling of foodstuffs in the society.