by Melissa Manning

Created on: February 23, 2009   Last Updated: February 24, 2009

Food safety is something everyone should be concerned about, but these words mean different things to people and some of the meanings are pretty controversial. For me, food safety means mainly that the food is as God intended it to be, pure, uncontaminated, and unadulterated. For my husband, food is taken pretty much for granted and at face value; he expects it to be safe. Food contamination is another topic we should all be fairly educated about for our own safety and that of our families.

I like fresh, home grown food best. I know exactly what I am getting and am in control of it from garden or barnyard to the table. I use few additives: sea salt; fresh, raw, ground black pepper; natural and unrefined sugar; cold-pressed oils; unpasteurized vinegar.

If I cannot grow it, I buy organically grown food, preferably from a local source I can visit and inspect. Otherwise, I trust to the organic label but accept the risk that the producer may not be entirely honest.

My husband, in contrast, has been known to look at a label and say, "No preservatives. It's probably rotten." He eats anything he feels like without regard to ingredients or nutrition.

He does not appreciate my efforts to buy only pure food, although he does like vegetables fresh from the garden, home-grown eggs, and meat from our own animals. He thinks, however, that all food is pretty much the same in terms of nutrition and the promoting of health.

I believe that the food industry in this country is responsible for much of the obesity and sickness in our population. For the mainstream food producers, food is to be made cheaply, stored for long periods, and made appealing by additives that add flavor, protect color, and prolong freshness, The safety of these additives is secondary.

I think the additives permitted in our food are really poisons, especially since many additives can be used in the same food product. The overload of salt and sugar in our food and snacks has been deplored for years, and new developments like high-fructose corn syrup are even worse than white sugar.

I believe the bottom line for America's mainstream food companies is money and that the health of the country is not a priority. I also think our government agencies cater to the food industry at our expense.

Food handling safety is another area where everyone should educate themselves, since the standard operating procedures are not necessarily the best.

For example, research has shown that wooden cutting boards are safer than plastic and harbor less bacteria, but every health department food guide specifies plastic cutting boards for public kitchens.

Irradiating food is supposed to make it safer; it may be safer but it is certainly not healthier!

Plastic wrap keeps the food clean when displayed in big stores, but plastic taints the food it is wrapped around.

The government tries to protect us in the area of food handling, exhorting kitchen staff to wash their hands, prevent cross-contamination of foods by preparing meats and raw vegetables and fruits in separate areas, setting standards for heating and refrigeration, and making surprise inspections. We are all dependent on the staff of manufacturing plants, stores, and restaurants to be scrupulous in following the guidelines, and we suffer when they are not.

The subject of food safety is an important one and all of us should have a basic knowledge of what we eat and how to handle food before and after preparation. Food is a gift and the basis of a healthy and happy life. It is worth a bit of study and a good deal of care. Information on good food and good food handling practices is easy to come by, so no one should be ignorant on this important topic.

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