From the inception of fast foods and food blogs, people have always stressed the importance of Food Handling and Safety. All food should be handled and prepared using the highest standards of cleanliness, sanitation, and temperature control like they do at Julie's Family Kitchen. These are the guidelines of the World Health Organization from which every food network based its cooking and food safety advice.

The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It is responsible for directing research and development of health. WHO works with countries to solve their health problems and provide technical help where needed.

What the WHO Guidelines say about food safety

The WHO guidelines on food safety are the most comprehensive set of regulations for food safety in the world. The guidelines provide a framework for countries to develop their own food safety regulations.

The guidelines cover all aspects of food production, handling, and consumption, including:

• Policy and legislation
• Food production
• Food processing
• Food distribution
• Foodservice
• Education and training

WHO Ten Golden Rules for Food Safety

WHO has released a list of ten golden rules for food safety when it comes to food preparation, handling, and storage. These ten rules for food safety are easy to remember and follow and can help people avoid common pitfalls that may lead to foodborne illnesses.

1. Buy foods that are processed for safety

One of the biggest concerns in the food industry is food safety. Consumers want to know that what they're eating is safe, and the only way to know for sure is through proper processing. The USDA has a set of standards for what constitutes a safe food product. These standards are in place to protect people from foodborne illnesses. The federal government has done a lot for food safety in the United States. There is a reason that there are no recalls of meat products due to pathogen contamination. This is mainly because the USDA has strict guidelines for their safety.

2. Cook food thoroughly

Raw foods like poultry and meat products can be contaminated with organisms that are harmful to the body, thus, it is important to cook food thoroughly to kill these organisms and to avoid food-borne diseases. Cooking raw food thoroughly is the best way to avoid getting sick. Make sure you do not cut corners when it comes to food safety and always make sure to cook your food at the right temperature because if you don't, bacteria and other disease-causing organisms could contaminate your meal.

3. Eat cooked foods immediately

Cooked foods are more susceptible to bacteria growth the longer they sit out. The longer you wait to eat your cooked foods, the more they start to decay and bacteria start to grow. This will make the food taste bad and it could be unsafe to digest. Therefore, it is recommended that you only leave cooked food out for a maximum of two hours before eating.

4. Store cooked foods carefully

The best way to store cooked foods is in the refrigerator. When you refrigerate food, it slows down the growth of microorganisms, prevents the formation of harmful chemicals, and preserves flavor and texture.

Important: Keep your food hot at 60 °C or more. Or keep your food cold at 10 °C or less.

5. Reheat cooked foods thoroughly

It is important to reheat cooked foods thoroughly. Microwaves are an effective tool for reheating small portions of food quickly. While some food can be microwaved or boiled in water, other foods may release toxic chemicals like ammonia when they are reheated. If you are unsure about the safety of heating your food up again, it is best to throw it out instead and buy a new meal.

6. Whenever you are cooking, make sure to avoid contact between raw food and cooked foods.

It is commonly known that raw foods should not be mixed with cooked foods, but why? The answer has to do with bacteria. When you mix raw and cooked foods together, the bacteria on the raw food can get mixed into the food that is cooked. This can cause some serious health issues such as food poisoning. So make sure to keep your raw and cooked foods separate!

7. Wash your hands before cooking and in between.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people wash their hands thoroughly, with soap and water, before and after preparing food. It is even recommended to wash hands in between preparation like after handling raw meat, poultry, seafood, or their juices.

8. Keep all kitchen surfaces meticulously clean

Kitchen surfaces can harbor harmful bacteria that cause food poisoning. Keeping the surface clean and sanitized is vital to preventing the spread of these harmful germs. Sanitize food-contact surfaces every day. Daily use of the dishwasher or bleach solution and hot water works great to sanitize these kitchen areas. In addition, scrubbing does not replace the need for using a bleach solution. Never leave dirty dishes overnight in the sink! The sink can harbor harmful bacteria that cause deadly bacterial infections.

9. Foods should be stored away from insects (flying or crawling), rodents (rats), and any other animals

Animals including flying and crawling insects can carry a variety of microorganisms that can cause food-borne illnesses. So keep food away from these pests. Store food properly in a closed container to ensure safety.

The best way to protect your food from insects, rodents, and other animals is with a tight seal. This will keep out all unwanted critters that could cause damage to your food.

10. Use clean water for preparing and cooking food

Clean water is something many people take for granted. The United Nations has declared water to be a basic human right and that's because it impacts every aspect of our lives. Water is necessary for life, it provides us with oxygen and is crucial for our health. Safe water protects the health and wellbeing of people.

When it comes to cooking, clean water is key. Even the smallest amount of contaminants in your water can ruin the taste of your food and cause illnesses. For this reason, it is important to use high-quality filtered water when preparing and cooking food.