Health risk from bad food hygiene

Each year there are millions of cases of gastroenteritis (or “stomach flu”, although it is not caused by the influenza viruses). For an increasing number of people, it's due to food poisoning, something that can be prevented.

The symptoms of gastroenteritis are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. Food poisoning is the type of gastroenteritis caused by eating or drinking something contaminated with micro-organisms or germs, or by toxic substances produced by these germs. They are often accompanied by fever, muscle aches, shivering and feeling exhausted.

The survey, carried out for National Food Safety Week, found that 12% of people only change or disinfect their kitchen sponge once a month and 6% change it even less often. And a third of people find it possible to eat food that is past its use-by date. 4 out of 10 respondents said they never removed jewellery before preparing food and of those with pets, 14% said they washed their pets’ bowls with their own washing-up - risking cross contamination.

Food storage was also found to be a big area of getting infection. Nearly half did not know they needed to keep their fridge at 0C to 5C to store food safely. And 16% stored raw meat on the top shelf of the fridge - risking the chance that juices could drip onto ready-to-eat foods below. 1 in 6 does not use separate chopping boards for raw meat and vegetables.

Hugh Pennington, professor of bacteriology, said: "The bad news is that 79,283 cases of food poisoning in the UK is the tip of a very unpleasant iceberg - many suffer in silence and are too embarrassed to tell.

Professor Peter Borriello added: "Good food is one of life's great pleasures. However, food-poisoning can be one of our worst memories. If everyone washes their hands thoroughly after going to the toilet, before and after cooking food and before sitting down to eat, we will see massive reductions in a range of unpleasant infections."

"Apart from immunizing their children against disease, thorough hand-washing and safe storage, preparation and cooking of food are the most important things that people can do to protect themselves and others from infection."

Answer the questions.

1) According to the text, is gastroenteritis a serious problem?

2) Why is it sometimes called “stomach flu”?

3) Good food hygiene is one of the ways of preventing gastroenteritis, isn’t it?

4) What examples of bad food hygiene does the article mention?

5) Does everyone suffering gastroenteritis go the doctor?

6) According to the researchers, is it possible to reduce the number of intestine infections? How?

The article presents examples of bad food hygiene. Complete the sentences explaining what bad hygiene can lead to.

1) If you don’t change or disinfect your kitchen sponge regularly, …………

2) If you eat food that is past its use-by date,………………

3) If you don’t remove your jewellery before cooking, …………

4) If you wash your pets’ bowls together with your washing-up, ……………

5) If you don’t keep your fridge at 0C to 5C, ……………..

6) If you store raw meat on the top shelf of the fridge, …………

Extract the necessary information from the article and fill in the table. If any information is not available, put “—“.

Summarize the information about gastroenteritis using the table. Present your summary to the class.

Read the passage about rotavirus that usually causes gastroenteritis. Using the information from the passage, ask 7-8 questions that a patient might ask about rotavirus.

Rotavirus is spread through airborne liquid droplets. It can survive for weeks in water and for up to four hours on human skin. It can also survive on surfaces, toys and clothing. The virus passes into the body through the mouth and nose when liquid droplets are breathed in or when fingers contaminated with the virus enter the mouth. Rotavirus is highly contagious and most children have had the infection by the time they reach five years old. The number of rotavirus infections peaks during winter and spring. Immunity develops after the initial infection, so future infections tend to be less severe. Immunity lasts a long time, so adults aren’t usually affected so badly.

Read the passage and answer the questions: Is viral gastroenteritis a serious illness? Who is at risk? Why?

People who get viral gastroenteritis almost always recover completely without any long-term problems. Gastroenteritis is a serious illness, however, for persons who are unable to drink enough fluids to replace what they lose through vomiting or diarrhea. Infants, young children, and persons who are unable to care for themselves, such as the disabled or elderly, are at risk for dehydration from loss of fluids. Immune compromised persons are at risk for dehydration because they may get a more serious illness, with greater vomiting or diarrhea. They may need to be hospitalized for treatment to correct or prevent dehydration.

UNIT 9. HEARTBURN.