Contamination, Food Allergens, and Foodborne Illness

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Contamination, Food Allergens, and Foodborne
Illness
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Apply Your Knowledge Test Your Food Safety
Knowledge

• True or False A person with ciguatera fish
  poisoning often sweats and experiences a burning
  sensation in the mouth.
• 2. True or False Cooking can destroy the toxins
  in toxic wild mushrooms.
• 3. True or False Copper utensils and equipment
  can cause an illness when used to prepare acidic
  food.
• 4. True or False When transferring a cleaning
  chemical to a spray bottle, it is unnecessary to
  label the bottle if the chemical is clearly
  visible.
• 5. True or False A person with a shellfish
  allergy who unknowingly eats soup made with clam
  juice may experience a tightening in the throat.

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Foodborne Contaminants

• Biological
• Fish toxins
• Shellfish toxins
• Plant and mushroom toxins
• Chemical
• Toxic metal poisoning
• Chemicals and pesticides
• Physical
• Metal shavings from cans, staples
• Fingernails, hair, bandages

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Biological Toxins

• These Toxins
• May be produced by pathogens found on food
• May occur naturally in plants or animals
• May occur as a result of an animals diet

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Major Foodborne Illnesses from Fish Toxins

• Fish Toxin Illnesses
• Scombroid poisoning
• Ciguatera fish poisoning

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Major Foodborne Illnesses from Fish Toxins

Illness Scombroid poisoning
Toxin Histamine
Food Involved
Common Symptoms
Prevention

• Reddening of face and neck
• Sweating
• Headache
• Burning or tingling in mouth or throat

• Purchase fish from approved, reputable suppliers
• Prevent time-temperature abuse during storage and
  preparation

• Tuna
• Bonito
• Mackerel
• Mahi-mahi

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Major Foodborne Illnesses from Fish Toxins

Illness Ciguatera fish poisoning
Toxin Ciguatoxin
Food Involved
Common Symptoms
Prevention

• Purchase fish from approved, reputable suppliers

• Predatory reef fish
• Barracuda
• Grouper
• Jacks
• Snapper

• Reversal of hot and cold sensations
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Tingling in fingers, lips, and toes
• Joint and muscle pain

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Major Foodborne Illnesses from Shellfish Toxins

• Shellfish Toxin Illnesses
• Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)
• Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning (NSP)
• Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP)

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Major Foodborne Illnesses from Shellfish Toxins
Illness Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
(PSP) Toxin Saxitoxin
Food Involved
Common Symptoms
Prevention

• Numbness
• Tingling of mouth, face, arms and legs
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

• Clams
• Mussels
• Oysters
• Scallops

• Purchase shellfish from approved, reputable
  suppliers

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Major Foodborne Illnesses from Shellfish Toxins
Illness Neurotoxic Shellfish
Poisoning (NSP) Toxin Brevetoxin
Food Involved
Common Symptoms
Prevention

• Tingling and numbness of the lips, tongue,
  and throat
• Dizziness
• Reversal of hot and cold sensations
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

• Purchase shellfish from approved, reputable
  suppliers

• Clams
• Mussels
• Oysters

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Major Foodborne Illnesses from Shellfish Toxins
Illness Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning
(ASP) Toxin Domoic Acid
Food Involved
Common Symptoms
Prevention

• Initially
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Later (Possibly)
• Confusion
• Memory loss
• Disorientation
• Seizure
• Coma

• Clams
• Mussels
• Oysters
• Scallops

• Purchase shellfish from approved, reputable
  suppliers

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Apply Your Knowledge Who Am I?

• 1. Identify the toxin
• I accumulate in predatory reef fish
• I can produce tingling fingers
• I have been associated with grouper
• I produce an illness with symptoms that may last
  years
• 2. Identify the toxin
• I can cause paralysis and death
• I am found in certain toxic marine algae
• I am commonly associated with scallops and other
  shellfish
• I am found in colder waters such as those of the
  New England Coast

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Mushroom Toxins

• These Toxins
• Are present in certain varieties of wild
  mushrooms
• Can cause severe illness
• Are not destroyed by cooking or freezing

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Chemical Toxins

• Toxic Metals
• Toxic metal poisoning can occur when
• Utensils or equipment containing toxic metals
  are used to prepare food (especially acidic
  food)
• Carbonated beverage dispensers are installed
  improperly
• To prevent this
• Use food-grade utensils and equipment to prepare
  and store food
• Have a professional install beverage dispensers

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Chemical Toxins

• Chemicals
• Store away from food, utensils, and equipment
• Follow manufacturers directions for using them
• Label them properly if they are transferred to
  new containers

Never store chemicals with food
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Physical Contaminants

• Occurs when foreign objects are accidentally
  introduced
• Metal shavings from cans
• Staples from cartons
• Glass from broken light bulbs
• Blades from plastic or rubber scrapers
• Fingernails, hair, and bandages
• Dirt
• Bones

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Food Allergens

• Common Food Allergens
• Milk and dairy products
• Eggs and egg products
• Fish
• Shellfish
• Wheat
• Soy and soy products
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts

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Food Allergens

• Symptoms of an allergic reaction include
• Itching in and around the mouth, face, or scalp
• Tightening in the throat
• Wheezing or shortness of breath
• Hives
• Swelling of the face, eyes, hands, or feet
• Gastrointestinal symptoms
• Loss of consciousness and death

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Food Allergens

• To protect guests with food allergies
• Be able to fully describe menu items
• If you are unsure if an item is allergen free,
  urge the guest to order something else
• Ensure that tableware and utensils used to
  prepare the guests food are allergen free

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Apply Your Knowledge Spot the Allergen

• Which of these are common allergens?
• Eggs
• Peanuts
• Beef
• Bean sprouts
• Shellfish
• Milk

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