DR MAXWELL ADEYEMI

Although many people understand why they must do a medical examination to obtain a food badge in order to sell food, some people still don't. The simple reason is that such medical evaluations assist in screening and identifying people with the potential to spread food-borne diseases and is a measure that helps to protect public health.

Food-borne parasites and bacteria can be deadly and controlling them is a matter of serious concern for governments and food producers alike. While these micro-organisms are unseen to the naked eye, they can cause serious illness if ingested with food or drinks. These microorganisms can easily be transferred from food vendors to consumers if proper hygiene is not practiced.

Some potentially dangerous food-borne germs

Escherichia coli is a bacterium that easily contaminated food and get people sick. The Shiga toxin Escherichia coli [STEC] is most common and produces a toxin called shiga that is dangerous to human. It is generally found in under-cooked beef. If ingested you can experience stomach cramps, vomiting, fever, and bloody diarrhoea. You can lower your risk of Escherichia coli by cooking all of your meats until it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F (71.1°C). When preparing beef, keep your work surface clean, wash your hands frequently, and don't cross-contaminate cooking utensils.

Giardia lamdia is one of the most common causes of water-borne and food-borne illness It's usually found in water or food that's been contaminated with faeces containing the parasite. An infection with giardia is known as giardiasis. It is contracted by eating undercooked pork, lamb, or wild game. Symptoms of infection include cramps, gas pains, diarrhoea, and nausea. It can take as many as one to two weeks for symptoms to appear and two to six weeks for them to subside. In rare cases, symptoms can last months or even years. You can prevent giardiasis by frequently washing your hands, drinking water from treated municipal sources, avoiding swallowing water when swimming and thoroughly cooking your meat

There are several types of tape worms that can find their way into the body through food. Most of the tape worms that affect humans come from eating under-cooked animal products, particularly beef, pork and contaminated fish. People can live with tape worms for months or even years without knowing because they may not have any symptoms. People with tape worm infections may experience weight loss, abdominal pain, and irritation of the anus. You can prevent tape worm infection by thoroughly cooking all the meat you eat, and by washing all fruits and vegetables before you eat or cook them.

An existing infection of pork tape worm can be made worse by itching and poor hygiene, during which eggs are transferred from the anus to the mouth after scratching or wiping.

Toxoplasma gondii, a microscopic parasite that causes the disease toxoplasmosis, can only reproduce inside of cats. It can be passed on thr