Food

U.S. has two main government agencies that oversee food safety, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). FDA conducts tests, sets standards and provides security laws regulating food quality and processing. When a manufacturer makes a request to put food additives and dyes in food, FDA reviews safety of chemicals to ensure their safety. FDA also considers, approves and regulates drugs. U.S. Department of Agriculture is responsible for regulation and inspection of all meat and poultry during slaughter and processing to ensure their quality and safety. USDA and FDA have a huge job to ensure food security for 250 million people in the United States. The amount of food that is produced, delivered, processed, packaged, stored and prepared in an absolutely astounding. In fact, each year every person in the United States consumes approximately:

233 pounds of milk and cream

126 pounds of potatoes

112 pounds of red meat

95 pounds of vegetables (excluding potatoes)

92 pounds of new fruit

Although the United States safe food in the world, there are still many opportunities for food to become contaminated by the time food leaves the farm until the time he is in the hands of the consumer. Knowledge of food safety is the best line of defense.

Unfortunately, many people get sick each year from foodborne illnesses. Foodborne illness is a disease that is transmitted to humans via food and is caused by bacteria present in food. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, cramps, or upset stomach, and they appear several hours or even days after the contaminated food was eaten. The most common causes of foodborne illness are improper holding temperatures, poor personal hygiene, cooking is not enough, contaminated equipment and food from unsafe sources.

Essential Nutrients

Nutrients that are vital for our survival, are essential substances derived from food. They provide energy and materials ...