Every time you cook or handle food, you’re interacting with Surfaces That Touch Food Are Called food contact surfaces. These surfaces are vital for maintaining food safety in your kitchen and preventing foodborne illnesses. Knowing what they are and how to properly care for them is essential for a healthy home and family.
What Exactly Are Surfaces That Touch Food Called?
Surfaces that touch food are called food contact surfaces. This term refers to any surface or object that directly comes into contact with food during any stage of food handling. This includes everything from preparation to cooking, serving, and storage. Think about all the items you use daily in your kitchen; many of them fall into this category:
- Cutting Boards: Whether plastic, wood, or bamboo, these are used for chopping and preparing ingredients.
- Utensils: Knives, forks, spoons, spatulas, whisks – anything used to prepare, cook, or serve food.
- Countertops: The work surfaces where you place and prepare food.
- Dishes and Serveware: Plates, bowls, serving dishes, and platters.
- Food Containers: Storage containers, reusable bags, and wraps that hold food.
- Appliances: Blenders, food processors, can openers, and mixers.
- Cooking Equipment: Pots, pans, baking sheets, and oven racks.
Alt text: A wooden cutting board with freshly chopped colorful vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, and cucumbers, illustrating a common food contact surface in home kitchens.
Why Food Contact Surfaces Matter for Food Safety
Food contact surfaces can easily become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These microorganisms can contaminate your food, leading to foodborne illnesses, often referred to as food poisoning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights the significant impact of these illnesses: “Foodborne illnesses, also known as food poisoning, are caused by eating contaminated food.” (CDC, 2023). These illnesses can range from mild discomfort to severe health issues.
Keeping Food Contact Surfaces Safe: Best Practices
Maintaining clean and safe food contact surfaces is not complicated, but it requires consistent effort. Here are key steps to ensure food safety in your kitchen:
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Clean and Sanitize Regularly: This is the most critical step. Cleaning and sanitizing are two distinct but equally important actions:
- Cleaning: Use soap and hot water to physically remove food particles, grease, and dirt. This step reduces the number of germs but doesn’t kill them all.
- Sanitizing: After cleaning, sanitize surfaces to kill harmful bacteria and viruses. You can use a commercial sanitizer or a simple homemade solution of diluted bleach (follow recommended dilutions carefully) or hot water (at least 170°F or 77°C). Let surfaces air dry after sanitizing.
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Choose Safe Materials: The type of material matters. Opt for non-porous materials that are easy to clean and sanitize. Good choices include:
- Stainless Steel: Durable, non-reactive, and easy to sanitize, excellent for countertops and utensils.
- Glass: Non-porous and easily cleaned, ideal for dishes and containers.
- Hard, Non-porous Plastics: Choose BPA-free and dishwasher-safe plastics for cutting boards and containers, but be mindful that they can scratch over time, creating crevices for bacteria.
- Solid Wood (with proper care): Wood can be used for cutting boards, but it requires more maintenance. Choose hardwood, sanitize regularly, and oil to prevent cracking. Avoid using wood for high-risk foods like raw meat.
Alt text: A person washing dishes including plates and utensils in a stainless steel kitchen sink with soapy water, demonstrating the cleaning process for food contact surfaces.
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Prevent Cross-Contamination: Cross-contamination is a major cause of foodborne illness. Prevent it by:
- Separate Cutting Boards: Use one cutting board specifically for raw meat, poultry, and seafood, and another for fruits, vegetables, and cooked foods. Color-coded cutting boards can be very helpful.
- Wash Hands Thoroughly: Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food, especially raw meat.
- Sanitize Utensils and Surfaces: Sanitize knives, cutting boards, and countertops after they come into contact with raw meat or produce.
- Avoid Reusing Utensils: Don’t use the same utensils for raw and cooked foods without washing and sanitizing them in between.
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Proper Food Storage: Storing food correctly also involves food contact surfaces:
- Airtight Containers: Store leftovers and ingredients in airtight containers to prevent contamination and keep food fresh.
- Clean Refrigerators and Pantries: Regularly clean your refrigerator and pantry to prevent the buildup of bacteria and mold that can contaminate food contact surfaces and food itself.
The Serious Impact of Foodborne Illnesses
Foodborne illnesses are more than just an upset stomach. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever. In vulnerable populations—young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems—food poisoning can be particularly dangerous, leading to hospitalization and even death. The CDC estimates that “each year roughly 1 in 6 Americans (about 48 million people) gets sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases.” (CDC, 2023).
Resources for Further Learning:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): www.cdc.gov
- FoodSafety.gov: www.foodsafety.gov
- Local Health Department Websites: For specific regulations and guidelines in your area.
In Conclusion
Understanding surfaces that touch food are called food contact surfaces and practicing proper food safety habits are crucial for protecting yourself and your family from foodborne illnesses. By prioritizing cleanliness, choosing safe materials, preventing cross-contamination, and storing food correctly, you can create a safer kitchen and enjoy meals with peace of mind.
References:
CDC. (2023). Foodborne Germs and Illnesses. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/foodborne-germs.html
