Identify characteristics of a safe food supplier.

The first line of defense in preventing foodborne illness is to obtain food from approved sources. Food should be purchased from commercial suppliers that are under proper regulatory control. The only exception to this is that fresh, whole (uncut) produce can be purchased from any source, including roadside vendors, Farmer’s Market, and local gardens. Food cannot be prepared in a home kitchen that is not under proper regulatory control and then served in a food establishment.

Guidelines for Specific Foods

Food in a Hermetically Sealed Container. Processing food at the proper temperature for the appropriate time is essential to kill bacterial spores that, under certain conditions in an airtight container, can begin to grow and produce toxin. Of special concern is Clostridium botulinum, a microorganism whose spores are found throughout the environment. Even slight underprocessing of low acid food can be dangerous because the spoilage microorganisms are killed and there are no signs to warn consumers that botulinum spores might have germinated into vegetative cells and produced their toxin. This is one reason that home canned foods cannot be served in a food establishment because the processing method has not necessarily been tested and is often not properly monitored.

Fluid Milk and Milk Products. Milk and milk products are susceptible to contamination by a variety of microbial pathogens, such as Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes. It also provides a rich medium for their growth. Pasteurization is required to eliminate pathogen contamination in milk and milk products. Unpasteurized milk and milk products are not permitted for use or sale in a food establishment.

Fish. After December 18, 1997, all processors of fish must have conducted a hazard analysis of their operation, identified each hazard that is reasonably likely to occur, and implemented a HACCP plan to control each identified hazard. Fish must be purchased from seafood suppliers who have complied with this requirement.

Molluscan Shellfish. Molluscan shellfish include oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops. Molluscan shellfish are a potential problem because: 1) the environments in which they grow are commonly subject to contamination from sewage that might contain pathogens and to naturally occurring pathogenic bacteria; 2) they filter and concentrate pathogens that might be present in surrounding waters; and 3) they are often consumed whole, either raw or partially cooked.

To minimize the risk of molluscan shellfish containing pathogens of sewage origin, State and foreign government agencies, called Shellfish Control Authorities, classify waters in which molluscan shellfish are found, based, in part, on an assessment of water quality. As a result of these classifications, molluscan shellfish harvesting is allowed from some waters, not from others, and only at certain times or under certain restrictions from others. Shellfish Control Authorities then exercise control over the molluscan shellfish harvesters to ensure that harvesting takes place only when and where it has been allowed.

Significant elements of the Shellfish Control Authorities' efforts to control the harvesting of molluscan shellfish include the following requirements: 1) containers of in-shell molluscan shellfish (shellstock) must bear a tag that identifies the type and quantity of shellfish, harvester, harvest location, and date of harvest; 2) molluscan shellfish harvesters must be licensed; 3) processors that shuck molluscan shellfish or ship, reship, or repack the shucked product must be certified; and, 4) containers of shucked molluscan shellfish must bear a label with the name, address, and certification number of the shucker-packer or repacker.

Pathogens, such as Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholerae, and Listeria monocytogenes that may be present in low numbers at the time that molluscan shellfish are harvested, may increase to more hazardous levels if they are time-temperature abused. To minimize the risk of pathogen growth, Shellfish Control Authorities also place limits on the time between harvest and refrigeration. The length of time is dependant upon either the month of the year or the average monthly maximum air temperature (AMMAT) at the time of harvest, which is determined by the Shellfish Control Authority.

To reduce the risk of illness associated with raw shellfish consumption, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) administers the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP). The NSSP is a tripartite, cooperative action plan involving federal and state public health officials and the shellfish industry. Those groups work together to improve shellfish safety. States regularly monitor waters to ensure that they are safe before harvesting is permitted. FDA routinely audits the states' classification of shellfish harvesting areas to verify that none pose a threat to public health. Patrolling of closed shellfishing waters minimizes the threat of illegal harvesting or "bootlegging" from closed waters. Bootlegging is a criminal activity and a major factor in shellfish-borne illnesses. Thus, molluscan shellfish must only be purchased from certified dealers that adhere to NSSP controls.

Wild Mushrooms. Over 5000 species of mushrooms grow naturally in North America. Most have never been tested to determine their toxicity. It is known that about 15 species are deadly and another 60 are toxic to humans whether they are consumed raw or cooked. An additional 36 species are suspected of being poisonous, whether raw or cooked. At least 40 other species are poisonous if eaten raw, but are safe after proper cooking.

Some wild mushrooms that are extremely poisonous may be difficult to distinguish from edible species. In most parts of the country there is at least one organization that includes individuals who can provide assistance with both identification and program design. Governmental agencies, universities, and mycological societies are examples of such groups. If a food establishment chooses to sell wild mushrooms, management must recognize and address the need for a sound identification program for providing safe wild mushrooms. The following guidance is provided regarding the identification of wild mushrooms.

A food establishment that sells or serves mushroom species picked in the wild shall have a written buyer specification that requires identification of:

1. The Latin binomial name, the author of the name, and the common name of the mushroom species,

2. That the mushroom was identified while in the fresh state,

3. The name of the person who identified the mushroom,

4. A statement as to the qualifications and training of the identifier, specifically related to mushroom identification.

Additional information can be found on the California Poison Control web site.

Games Animals. The primary concern regarding game animals relates to animals obtained in the wild. This is important because wild animals might be carriers of viruses, rickettsiae, bacteria, or parasites that can cause illness in humans. Some of these diseases can be very severe. In addition to the risk posed to consumers of game that is not subject to an inspection program, there is risk to those who harvest and prepare wild game because they may contract infectious diseases such as rabies or tularemia. Wild game animals might be used or served in a food establishment if the supplier has a regulatory inspection program in place to ensure that wild animal products are safe.

SOURCE: Adapted from Annex 3: Public Health Reasons of the U.S. Food Code.