good hygiene practices on the farm

Good Hygiene Practices Good Hygiene Practices on the Farmon the Farm

Food and Drug Protection Division/ NC Food and Drug Protection Division/ NC Department of Agriculture and Department of Agriculture and

Consumer Service Training Material for Consumer Service Training Material for Proper Hand WashingProper Hand Washing

Protecting Your Food SupplyProtecting Your Food SupplyFrom the Farm to the ForkFrom the Farm to the Fork

Proper hand washing protects our fruits Proper hand washing protects our fruits and vegetables from contamination.and vegetables from contamination.

Is this true?Is this true?

It is said that bacteria multiply themselves It is said that bacteria multiply themselves by thousands of times on our hands…by thousands of times on our hands…

Can we probe this?Can we probe this?

Test for Bacteria Touching an Test for Bacteria Touching an Ordinary Door knobOrdinary Door knob

In one of the NC Department of Agriculture and In one of the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Food and Drug Protection Consumer Services Food and Drug Protection Division laboratories, we did two tests for bacteria Division laboratories, we did two tests for bacteria after touching an ordinary door knob. The first test after touching an ordinary door knob. The first test was done before hand washing and the second was done before hand washing and the second test was done after hand washingtest was done after hand washing..

Touching a door knobTouching a door knob

This hand was analyzed for bacteria after handling this ordinary door knob; it could This hand was analyzed for bacteria after handling this ordinary door knob; it could be in any house or office, etc.be in any house or office, etc.

The first test was done before the person washed her hands after handling the The first test was done before the person washed her hands after handling the knob.knob.

Test for bacteria on hand before Test for bacteria on hand before hand washinghand washing

Inside the Petri Dish there is Agar.Inside the Petri Dish there is Agar. Agar is a jelly like substance use for culturing bacteria.Agar is a jelly like substance use for culturing bacteria. She put her hand in the agar before washing her hands.She put her hand in the agar before washing her hands.

Agar

Petri Dish

Results of test for bacteriaResults of test for bacteria

Each of these shapes Each of these shapes is a different type of is a different type of bacteria that was on bacteria that was on the hand.the hand.

Viruses, bacteria, Viruses, bacteria, fungi multiply fungi multiply themselves by themselves by thousands of times on thousands of times on our hands, and they our hands, and they do it in a few minutes.do it in a few minutes.

Big QuestionBig Question

If we get bacteria on our If we get bacteria on our hands by just hands by just touching a door, what touching a door, what would happen to food would happen to food if we touch it without if we touch it without first properly washing first properly washing our handsour hands??

Big AnswerBig Answer

Yes!Yes! You got it right. If at You got it right. If at

any point from the any point from the farm to the table we farm to the table we touch food without touch food without

first properly washing first properly washing our hands, we will our hands, we will

certainly contaminate certainly contaminate produce and anything produce and anything

else we eat.else we eat.

Yes!Yes! You got it right. If at You got it right. If at

any point from the any point from the farm to the table we farm to the table we touch food without touch food without

first properly washing first properly washing our hands, we will our hands, we will

certainly contaminate certainly contaminate produce and anything produce and anything

else we eat.else we eat.

Same Door KnobSame Door Knob

The next test for bacteria was done after The next test for bacteria was done after handling the door knob and then washing the handling the door knob and then washing the hands.hands.

Before doing the second testBefore doing the second test

She washed her She washed her hands with warm hands with warm water and soap.water and soap.

She washed her She washed her hands for only hands for only 15 15 seconds.seconds. We will see We will see if this was enough if this was enough time to remove all time to remove all bacteria.bacteria.

Drying hands should Drying hands should always be done with always be done with disposable paper disposable paper towel.towel.

Bacteria can grow in Bacteria can grow in cloth towels.cloth towels.

Test for Bacteria on Hands after Test for Bacteria on Hands after Hand WashingHand Washing

This test for bacteria on hand was done after This test for bacteria on hand was done after she washed her hands.she washed her hands.

She again put her hand on the agar inside the She again put her hand on the agar inside the petri dish.petri dish.

Agar

PetriDish

After Hand WashingAfter Hand Washing

After 15 seconds of After 15 seconds of hand washing, one hand washing, one bacteria was bacteria was missed.missed.

It is important to It is important to wash your hands wash your hands 20 20 secondsseconds

Toilet PaperToilet Paper

We just learned how our hands get We just learned how our hands get contaminated after touching an ordinary door contaminated after touching an ordinary door knob; and it could be anything else like: tools, knob; and it could be anything else like: tools, keys, money, etc.keys, money, etc.

Would this be true for toilet paperWould this be true for toilet paper??

Toilet Paper Is Never Wide or Toilet Paper Is Never Wide or Strong EnoughStrong Enough

Light can easily pass through toilet paper.Light can easily pass through toilet paper.

Big QuestionBig Question

If light can pass If light can pass through a piece of toilet through a piece of toilet paper, what else could paper, what else could pass through a piece of pass through a piece of toilet papertoilet paper??

Big AnswerBig Answer

Yes!Yes! You got it right. You got it right.

Bacteria can easily Bacteria can easily pass through a piece pass through a piece of toilet paper and of toilet paper and contaminate your contaminate your hands.hands.

It is essential to It is essential to always wash your always wash your hands after going to hands after going to the restroom.the restroom.

Most Common BacteriaMost Common Bacteria

Staphylococcus Staphylococcus AureusAureus


SalmonellaSalmonella


E. ColiE. Coli


ListeriaListeria

Most Common Food VirusesMost Common Food Viruses

Viruses are much smaller than bacteria. Viruses are much smaller than bacteria. Some of the common food viruses include: Some of the common food viruses include: Hepatitis A, Norovirus, and Rotavirus. Hepatitis A, Norovirus, and Rotavirus. Some diseases, like Hepatitis A, can be Some diseases, like Hepatitis A, can be caused when an infected worker directly caused when an infected worker directly contaminates the food they are handling contaminates the food they are handling with their hands. with their hands.

Most Common Food Viruses Most Common Food Viruses Hepatitis AHepatitis A

Most Common Food Viruses Most Common Food Viruses NorovirusNorovirus

Most Common Food Viruses Most Common Food Viruses RotavirusRotavirus

Most Common Food ParasitesMost Common Food Parasites

ParasitesParasites can be transmitted to people by can be transmitted to people by water, food, or from another person. Some water, food, or from another person. Some of the common food parasites are of the common food parasites are Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Giardia, Trichinella, and various worms.Trichinella, and various worms.

Most Common Food Parasites Most Common Food Parasites CryptosporidiumCryptosporidium

Most Common Food Parasites Most Common Food Parasites CyclosporaCyclospora

Most Common Food Parasites Most Common Food Parasites GiardiaGiardia

Most Common Food Parasites Most Common Food Parasites TrichinellaTrichinella

Common Symptoms for Common Symptoms for Food borne DiseasesFood borne Diseases

DiarrheaDiarrheaVomitingVomiting

FeverFeverMuscle painMuscle pain

Stomach crampsStomach crampsDehydrationDehydration

Severe Risk for food borne Severe Risk for food borne IllnessIllness

• Pregnant women can lose their babies because Pregnant women can lose their babies because of contaminated food.of contaminated food.


Babies can born with physical or brain Babies can born with physical or brain problems.problems.


Bacteria can harbor Bacteria can harbor in some joints in some joints

and cause Septic and cause Septic Arthritis.Arthritis.


Many people have Many people have died or become died or become seriously sick seriously sick because of because of

contaminated contaminated food.food.

Protecting Your Food SupplyProtecting Your Food SupplyFrom the Farm to the ForkFrom the Farm to the Fork

The best way to protect our food supply from The best way to protect our food supply from the farm to the fork is:the farm to the fork is: Following GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices)Following GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices)

Practicing Good Hygiene RulesPracticing Good Hygiene Rules

Good Hygiene Practices Good Hygiene Practices at the Farmat the Farm

All farm equipment, tools, All farm equipment, tools, and surfaces in contact and surfaces in contact with fruits or vegetables with fruits or vegetables should always be should always be sanitized before being use sanitized before being use to avoid the growth of to avoid the growth of food borne bacteria like food borne bacteria like these shown here.these shown here.


Farm workers should always be offered clean, easy Farm workers should always be offered clean, easy access to restrooms, plenty of toilet paper, paper towels, access to restrooms, plenty of toilet paper, paper towels, warm water and soap; and be allowed to use them when warm water and soap; and be allowed to use them when they need it.they need it.

It might be helpful to remove the trash receptacles from It might be helpful to remove the trash receptacles from the stall area and place them in the hand washing areas.the stall area and place them in the hand washing areas.

Farm workers should always use the restrooms and wash Farm workers should always use the restrooms and wash their hands after using them. their hands after using them.


Sick farm workers should stay away from produce and all types of Sick farm workers should stay away from produce and all types of food, as they can contaminate them.food, as they can contaminate them.

Farm workers with open or infected wounds or blisters should stay Farm workers with open or infected wounds or blisters should stay away from produce. away from produce.

Wounds or blisters have to be properly disinfected and covered with a Wounds or blisters have to be properly disinfected and covered with a waterproof, tight fitting bandage. For additional protection, farm waterproof, tight fitting bandage. For additional protection, farm workers should wear disposable gloves.workers should wear disposable gloves.


A First-Aid kit must be always A First-Aid kit must be always available for immediate use at available for immediate use at the production site. the production site.

A First- Aid kitA First- Aid kit should always should always containcontain::

GlovesGloves Bandages; gauzesBandages; gauzes AlcoholAlcohol Antibiotic CreamsAntibiotic Creams Antidiarrheal medicineAntidiarrheal medicine ScissorsScissors TweezersTweezers Other special needs and Other special needs and

medicationsmedications


Fields should always Fields should always have clean hand have clean hand washing stations with washing stations with plenty of warm water, plenty of warm water, soap and paper soap and paper towels.towels.

Farm workers should Farm workers should use the hand washing use the hand washing stations several times stations several times a day.a day.


Farm workers should always wash Farm workers should always wash their hands.their hands.

When Should Farm Workers Wash When Should Farm Workers Wash Their Hands?Their Hands?

Before beginning to Before beginning to work work

After going to the After going to the restroomrestroom

Before returning to Before returning to work after a breakwork after a break

Anytime their Anytime their hands become dirtyhands become dirty


Workers who wear gloves must still wash their hands Workers who wear gloves must still wash their hands properly. Gloves and aprons or uniforms should be taken properly. Gloves and aprons or uniforms should be taken off before going to the restroom. off before going to the restroom.

Gloves should be replaced with the same schedule as Gloves should be replaced with the same schedule as hand washing:hand washing: Before beginning to workBefore beginning to work Before returning to work after a breakBefore returning to work after a break Anytime their gloves become dirtyAnytime their gloves become dirty

Who Else Should Follow Hygiene Who Else Should Follow Hygiene Practices?Practices?

““Pick Your Own” customers Pick Your Own” customers should be encouraged to should be encouraged to properly wash their hands. On properly wash their hands. On the fields they should have the fields they should have easy access to a clean facility, easy access to a clean facility, plenty of good quality water; plenty of good quality water; soap; and paper towels.soap; and paper towels.

When necessary, customers When necessary, customers should wear appropriate, safe should wear appropriate, safe footwear for working in the footwear for working in the fields. fields.

Customers should be Customers should be encouraged to always wash all encouraged to always wash all of their produce. of their produce.

How to Properly Wash Your Hands?How to Properly Wash Your Hands? Use warm water.Use warm water. Use soap.Use soap. Rub your hands back Rub your hands back

and forth.and forth. Don’t forget to scrub Don’t forget to scrub

your thumbs, under your thumbs, under your nails and in your nails and in between your fingers.between your fingers.

Wash your hands for Wash your hands for 20 seconds 20 seconds or sing or sing Happy Birthday twice.Happy Birthday twice.

Fully dry out your Fully dry out your hands with paper towel.hands with paper towel.

Materials are AvailableMaterials are Available

The NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, The NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Food and Drug Protection Division, has free materials Food and Drug Protection Division, has free materials available about proper hand washing in English and in available about proper hand washing in English and in Spanish. Spanish.

Contact:Contact: Maria Noriega Maria Noriega 919-733-7366 (x237)919-733-7366 (x237)

good hygiene practices on the farm

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