Food safety is a scientific discipline describing handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness. This includes a number of routines that should be followed to avoid potential health hazards. In this way food safety often overlaps with food defense to prevent harm to consumers.
In theory, food poisoning is 100% preventable. The five key principles of food safety standards are:
1) Prevent contaminating food with pathogens spreading from people, pets, and pests.
2) Separate raw and cooked foods to prevent contaminating the cooked foods.
3) Cook foods for the appropriate length of time and at the appropriate temperature to kill pathogens.
4) Store food at the proper temperature.
5) Do use safe water and safe raw materials.
