Food hygiene

20. Resources - Food hygiene

Glossary

TermDefinition
Bacteria

a group of microorganisms all of which lack a distinct nuclear membrane and most of which have a unique cell wall composition. Most are unicellular; cells may be spherical (coccus), rod like (bacillus), spiral (spirillus), coma shaped (vibrio) or corkscrew shaped (spirochaete) Reproduce asexually. RCN (2008) Oxford mini dictionary for nurses (6th ed), Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Encephalitis

inflammation of the brain. RCN (2008) Oxford mini dictionary for nurses (6th ed), Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Food borne disease

caused by pathogenic micro-organisms that are carried by food and water. (Nash C (Ed) (1998) in: Chartered Institute Environmental Health 1998, reprinted with minor additions 2008) Food Safety. First Principles. CIEH, UK.

Food hygiene

involves all necessary measures to produce safe and healthy food. Any means to prevent contamination, decontamination food (such as pasteurisation) and measures to improve wholesomeness and fitness for consumption. Nash C (Ed) (1998) in: Chartered Institute Environmental Health 1998, reprinted with minor additions 2008) Food Safety. First Principles. CIEH, UK.

Food poisoning

a general term for an illness caused by eating contaminated food. (Nash C (Ed) (1998) in: Chartered Institute Environmental Health 1998, reprinted with minor additions 2008) Food Safety. First Principles. CIEH, UK.

Food safety

refers to the conditions and practices that preserve the quality of food to prevent contamination and food borne illnesses. Scott Smith (2008) Food safety. Available at: MedlinePlus.

Fungus

simple organism formerly regarded as a plant which lacks chlorophyll. Includes yeasts and moulds. RCN (2008) Oxford mini dictionary for nurses (6th ed),Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges which surround the brain and spinal cord. Due to bacterial, viral or fungal infection. RCN (2008) Oxford mini dictionary for nurses (6th Ed), Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Miscarriage

the involuntary loss of the products of conception prior to 24 weeks gestation. Shiers C (2003) In: Fraser D& Cooper M (Eds). Myles textbook for midwives. 14th Ed. Churchill Livingstone, London.

Notifiable disease

one of a number of specified diseases which by law must notified by the appropriate health care professional to the local authority (LA), primary care trust (PCT) and centre for infections unit at the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

Parasite

any living thing that lives off another living organism. Human parasites include bacteria, viruses and fungi. Some irritate or interfere with bodily systems, some destroy host tissues and may release toxins into the body. RCN (2008) Oxford mini dictionary for nurses (6th ed), Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Parasite

any living thing that lives off another living organism. Human parasites include bacteria, viruses and fungi. Some irritate or interfere with bodily systems, some destroy host tissues and may release toxins into the body. RCN (2008) Oxford mini dictionary for nurses (6th ed), Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Pasteurised

a food product which has undergone a form of heat treatment that kills pathogenic bacteria but not all spoilage bacteria. (Nash C(Ed) (1998) in: Chartered Institute Environmental Health 1998, reprinted with minor additions 2008) Food Safety. First Principles. CIEH, UK.

Pathogenic

capable of causing disease. RCN (2008) Oxford mini dictionary for nurses (6th ed), Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Signs

clinical manifestation of illness, sometimes not experienced physically by the patient. May include diagnostic tests to determine the signs of an illness.

Spoilage bacteria

bacteria which make food perish rapidly. Nash C (ed) (1998) in: Chartered Institute Environmental Health 1998, reprinted with minor additions 2008) Food Safety. First Principles. CIEH, UK.

Still birth

a child which has issued forth rom its mother after the 24th week of pregnancy and which did not at any time after being completely expelled from its mother breathe or show any other signs of life. (Births deaths and registrations act 1953. HMSO London).

Symptoms

the signs of illness experienced by the patient.

Toxin

a poison produced by a living organism. RCN (2008) Oxford mini dictionary for nurses (6th ed), Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Virus

a microscopic particle only capable of replication inside a living host cell. RCN (2008) Oxford mini dictionary for nurses (6th ed), Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Resources

ResourceResource Description
Nursing and Midwifery Council code of conduct

Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses and midwives.

Health professionals code

Profession specific standards for dieticians

Expressing and storing breast milk

Advice on expressing and storing breast milk

Preparation of formula feeds

How to prepare infant formula and sterilise feeding equipment

Learning outcomes

This RLO introduces students to food hygiene, the surrounding legislation, high risk foods, food borne diseases, cleaning and disinfection and food hygiene measures for infant feeding.

By completing this resource you will be able to:

  • To describe the importance of correct food hygiene in clinical areas
  • Describe the principles of safe food handling in the context of professional practice
  • List 3 of the common organisms responsible for food poisoning
  • Identify modes responsible for the spread of bacteria into the food chain
  • State the ideal conditions responsible for bacterial growth/proliferation
  • To be aware of high risk foods and correct storage and preparation
  • Maintain suitable environment and premises for storage and preparation of food items including breast milk and formula milk
  • State the importance of both personal and hand hygiene in respect of safe food handling.

This resource was developed by:

Authors: Jenny Prior and Arlene Barton

Developer: Richard Windle

HTML5 conversion: Liz Hilton

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Creative Commons logo Learning Objects for Healthcare by School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 UK: England & Wales (CC BY-NC 2.0 UK)

  • Content authors: Jenny Prior and Arlene Barton
  • Developer: Richard Windle
  • HTML5 Conversion: Liz Hilton
  • Contact: helm@nottingham.ac.uk

RLO released: 1st January, 2017

Creative Commons licence. Terms of use