"This book is a reference on food and water safety that will be useful for food managers, trainers/educators, food handlers, and consumers worldwide. The first two chapters emphasize the importance of food and water safety on health and life maintenance. Each chapter has an introductory paragraph that states the objective and scope of the chapter text. | Definitions of useful terms, tables, and illustrations serve to make the key points better understood and easier to remember. Review questions at the end of each chapter enhance the learning experience, and the chapter references will give the reader a chance to delve into areas of interest for further information. A unique feature of this book is the segment on foodborne disease outbreaks. | A selection of fifty cases are presented that provide important learning tools for problem-solving and evaluating foodborne illnesses. Water safety is explained in great detail, whether it is used for drinking and cooking or in recreational water facilities. | Numerous examples of etiologic agents that cause illness from contaminated food and water are discussed. Guidelines to supply safe food and water for emergencies that include preparedness in case of bioterrorism, power outage, floods, hurricanes, and other disasters are given. Practical guidelines about food and water safety when handling foods throughout the food chain are explored in each chapter. | In addition, a glossary of terms commonly used in food and water safety, with cross-references to the chapter contents, is included. In light of global trade and increasing cultural diversity in food consumption, this book also deals with challenges for the future to ensure a safe water and food supply."--Jacket.

A ‘nexus’ approach, comprising interrelated systems components of energy, water, and food, has been suggested to accelerate progress towards achieving sustainable development goals on food waste and related issues, like climate change. The current body of literature usually focuses on food security, especially in relation to production and waste management in the supply chain. The food service sector (FSS), a major consumer-facing component of the food system, has often been overlooked or neglected. There exists, then, an opportunity to better understand the interlinkages between food waste, energy, water, and emissions – the FEWE Nexus – to assist this sector in developing more sustainable operations, such as kitchen equipment management and menu development. To fill this gap, we introduce a novel FEWE Nexus Framework, to understand the flow of nexus components associated with receiving, storing, preparing, cooking, cleaning, and serving menu items. A key aspect of the methodological approach for FEWE evaluation is life cycle assessment (LCA). This is embodied in a comprehensive nexus audit tool comprising several indicators to monitor and quantify energy and water consumption, emissions from cooking, food waste generated, and type and efficiency of equipment used. Further, a stakeholder engagement survey is integrated, allowing for stakeholder feedback on applications of the audit tool, and to assess the impacts and acceptance of potential interventions. Finally, we describe how an iterative nexus approach can enable decision makers in the FSS to robustly estimate nexus components and establish a baseline to track their progress towards minimizing wastages and maximize efficiency.

Sustainable agriculture encompasses economic, environmental, and social aspects of the food system. Members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Academy) play an important role in promoting sustainable agriculture because they work in areas where they can influence the food purchasing decisions of foodservice operations and the public.To investigate behavior of registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) toward incorporating sustainable agriculture principles into professional practice using the Theory of Planned Behavior.This cross-sectional study surveyed RDNs nationwide about their perspectives on incorporating sustainable agriculture issues into practice. The survey questions were based on a survey originally administered to Minnesota RDNs during 2002.The sample (N=626) was drawn from a randomly selected, national sample of Academy members.Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t tests, Pearson correlations, and stepwise regression.The sample was mostly white, female, and the average age was 45.4±12.2 years. Almost half of Academy RDNs (47%) reported incorporating environmental issues into their practice. All four Theory of Planned Behavior variables (intention, attitude, perceived behavior control, and subjective norm) were predictive of behavior to include sustainable agriculture issues into practice. Barriers to incorporating this topic into practice included lack of knowledge, ability, time, and employer support.This study found that most of the RDN respondents had heard of sustainable agriculture and nearly half reported including this topic in their professional practice. To integrate this topic into practice more consistently, RDNs need more knowledge, time, and employer support.

Food safety issues and increases in food borne illnesses have promulgated the development of new sanitation methods to eliminate pathogenic organisms on foods and surfaces in food service areas. Electrolyzed oxidizing water (EO water) shows promise as an environmentally friendly broad spectrum microbial decontamination agent. EO water is generated by the passage of a dilute salt solution (approximately 1% NaCl) through an electrochemical cell. This electrolytic process converts chloride ions and water molecules into chlorine oxidants (Cl2, HOCl/ClO-). At a near-neutral pH (pH 6.3-6.5), the predominant chemical species is the highly biocidal hypochlorous acid species (HOCl) with the oxidation reduction potential (ORP) of the solution ranging from 800 to 900 mV. The biocidal activity of near-neutral EO water was evaluated at 25 °C using pure cultures of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Enterococcus faecalis. Treatment of these organisms, in pure culture, with EO water at concentrations of 20, 50, 100, and 120 ppm total residual chlorine (TRC) and 10 min of contact time resulted in 100% inactivation of all five organisms (reduction of 6.1-6.7 log10 CFU/mL). Spray treatment of surfaces in food service areas with EO water containing 278-310 ppm TRC (pH 6.38) resulted in a 79-100% reduction of microbial growth. Dip (10 min) treatment of spinach at 100 and 120 ppm TRC resulted in a 4.0-5.0 log10 CFU/mL reduction of bacterial counts for all organisms tested. Dipping (10 min) of lettuce at 100 and 120 ppm TRC reduced bacterial counts of E. coli by 0.24-0.25 log10 CFU/mL and reduced all other organisms by 2.43-3.81 log10 CFU/mL.

Treatment of fresh fruits and vegetables with electrolyzed water (EW) has been shown to kill or reduce foodborne pathogens. We evaluated the efficacy of EW in killing Escherichia coli O157:H7 on iceberg lettuce, cabbage, lemons, and tomatoes by using washing and/or chilling treatments simulating those followed in some food service kitchens. Greatest reduction levels on lettuce were achieved by sequentially washing with 14-A (amperage) acidic EW (AcEW) for 15 or 30 s followed by chilling in 16-A AcEW for 15 min. This procedure reduced the pathogen by 2.8 and 3.0 log CFU per leaf, respectively, whereas washing and chilling with tap water reduced the pathogen by 1.9 and 2.4 log CFU per leaf. Washing cabbage leaves for 15 or 30 s with tap water or 14-A AcEW reduced the pathogen by 2.0 and 3.0 log CFU per leaf and 2.5 to 3.0 log CFU per leaf, respectively. The pathogen was reduced by 4.7 log CFU per lemon by washing with 14-A AcEW and 4.1 and 4.5 log CFU per lemon by washing with tap water for 15 or 30 s. A reduction of 5.3 log CFU per lemon was achieved by washing with 14-A alkaline EW for 15 s prior to washing with 14-A AcEW for 15 s. Washing tomatoes with tap water or 14-A AcEW for 15 s reduced the pathogen by 6.4 and 7.9 log CFU per tomato, respectively. Application of AcEW using procedures mimicking food service operations should help minimize cross-contamination and reduce the risk of E. coli O157:H7 being present on produce at the time of consumption.

Se han medido el pH y la aw de distintos preparados alimenticios elaborados en establecimientos dedicados a la restauracion social. Ambos parametros son considerados como factores inhibidores del desarrollo microbiano. Los alimentos elaborados o semielaborados se clasificaron en varios grupos: hortalizas, legumbres, cereales y derivados -arroz y pasta-, pescados y mariscos, carnes y productos carnicos, huevos y ovoproductos y miscelaneos -salsas, sopas...-.