Ensuring food safety is a challenge for businesses and consumers

Which products can be considered hazardous to human health?

Dangerous foods are those that contain pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites or harmful chemicals.

Many food products can be contaminated with bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, and other microorganisms. Improper handling or improper storage of food can cause these bacteria to multiply and cause food poisoning.

Food products can also be contaminated with viruses. Raw or undercooked foods create ideal conditions for the transmission of viruses such as hepatitis A or norovirus.

Some foods may contain parasites such as roundworm, toxoplasma. The source of parasitic infections is raw or undercooked fish, meat and other foods.

Improper production or uncontrolled use of chemicals can lead to contamination of food with harmful chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals or antibiotics) and affect the health of consumers.

Consumption of substandard food poses various risks to consumer health, such as food poisoning; infections, diseases (salmonellosis, escherichia, listeriosis, hepatitis A); allergic reactions; toxicological effects and even psychological impact. The consumer of poor-quality food risks losing not only health and work capacity, but also life.

Prevention of these risks includes compliance with the rules of hygiene when preparing and consuming food, choosing high-quality products, and properly storing and preparing them. Regular product inspection and quality control are also important for food safety.

What is the business’s responsibility for poisoning people with food and ready meals?

Feeding people is extremely responsible and responsibility for violating sanitary rules regarding food safety is appropriate and enshrined in the Criminal Code of Ukraine. In particular, Article 325 “Violation of sanitary rules and norms regarding the prevention of infectious diseases and mass poisoning” states that violation of the rules and norms established for the purpose of preventing epidemic and other infectious diseases, as well as mass non-infectious diseases (poisoning) and combating them, if such actions caused or knowingly could cause the spread of these diseases, it is punishable by a fine of up to one hundred tax-free minimum incomes of citizens (in the monetary equivalent, this is UAH 134,200) or by arrest for a term of up to six months, or by restriction of freedom for a term of up to three years. And the same actions, if they caused the death of people or other serious consequences, are punishable by imprisonment for a term of five to eight years.

How do you build a system that will ensure the sanitary safety of your meals?

Inadequate management of food quality and safety at various stages of production and in the process of its transportation, sale, and storage leads to both public illness and additional losses, fines, and business bankruptcy.

Manufacturers, food suppliers, caterers must follow a number of rules in order to avoid potentially serious dangers to public health.

1. Implement the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) food safety management system. HACCP is the only food safety system that has proven its effectiveness and is accepted by international organizations. It allows you to guarantee the production of safe products by identifying and controlling dangerous factors.
2. To constantly carry out complex chemical and microbiological studies of food quality. This should be a key factor for a business which aims not only to meet consumer expectations as well as ensuring market stability and a high level of consumer confidence.

What are the advantages for food producers and suppliers that control safety?

First, to avoid criminal liability and to ensure the health of consumers.

Second, the impact on brand reputation, which is a key factor in business success in the food industry. Comprehensive research allows manufacturers to control the quality and safety of their products, to avoid negative situations that would seriously undermine consumer confidence.

Third, market compliance and quality standards. In order to meet the requirements of legislation, industry standards and consumer expectations, which determine the competitiveness of the company, it is necessary to systematically conduct qualitative research on food products.

Fourth, consumer engagement and retention. Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious and demanding. They carefully study the information on labels, read reviews and choose products that they believe are the safest and of the highest quality.

Therefore, comprehensive food quality and safety research is not only a control tool, but also a strategic resource for competitiveness, building a sustainable reputation and creating products that meet the highest quality and safety standards.

Where can I order comprehensive studies on food safety?

Qualified staff of the Company” Center LTD” conducts microbiological studies of the quality of food products, beverages and food raw materials using modern equipment and European methods in its own accredited laboratory

The laboratory is equipped according to all the necessary rules in accordance with the requirements of the State sanitary rules of DSP 9.9.5.-080-02 “Rules of arrangement and safety of work in laboratories (departments, departments) of the microbiological profile” and the international standard EN ISO/IEC 17025 (EN ISO/ IEC 17025:2017, IDT: ISO/IEC 17025:2017, IDT.

The company’s laboratory is accredited for research on:

• food products and raw materials,
• ready-made culinary products,
• catering products,
• drinks
• washings and impressions from surfaces.

“Ukrainian business has every opportunity to be one of the leading exporters of safe food products and raw materials with a high profit to the markets of Europe and the world, but in order to implement these opportunities, it is necessary to introduce a strict system of food safety control,” says director of the Company Oleg Bota.

Contacts for providing an individual proposal for chemical and microbiological research: 41 Sakharova St., Lviv, 79026, +380 67 281 36 40, +380 95 145 68 82, [email protected]