
Harmful substances cause ill health, can lead to death, may lead to permanent deformity and may affect normal growth. Dusts, Alcohol, Gases or fumes, including cigarette smoke are examples of harmful substance in food production. Advertisement
Full Answer
What foods are harmful to the body?
- Apple seeds. Apple seeds contain cyanide, a chemical that can cause hypoxia or a lack of oxygen delivery to the body.
- Artificial Sweetener (Xylitol) Xylitol sweeteners cause our pets glucose/blood sugar to drop dangerously low. ...
- Coffee/Caffeine. Caffeine raises blood pressure and causes cardiac arrythmias, which can be dangerous. ...
- Onions/chives. ...
What are the most harmful foods?
Most Dangerous Foods. 1. Tomato Leaves. The red fruit is juicy but its leaves contain a poison called Glycoalkaloid. It can cause an upset stomach, anxiety and severe cramping. So no experimenting ...
What foods contain toxins?
Top 10 Most Toxic Foods
- Alcohol. It may not be a food, but alcohol is inarguably toxic to the body and is one of the most frequently used substances worldwide.
- High-Fructose Corn Syrup. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is linked to a number of chronic diseases, specifically metabolic conditions like diabetes and heart disease [3].
- Sugar. ...
- Fish. ...
- Rice. ...
- Conventional Beef. ...
Are there harmful chemicals in our food?
Our food contains chemicals that may result in serious health risks, especially for young children. Some of these chemicals are purposefully added to food or packaging to flavor, color, preserve, package, process and store our food.

What are harmful substances in food?
6 'Toxins' in Food That Are Actually ConcerningBisphenol A and similar compounds. ... Artificial trans fats. ... Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. ... Coumarin in cinnamon. ... Added sugars. ... Mercury in fish.
How do harmful substances affect food production?
About chemicals and food The use of pesticides can dramatically increase crop production and ensure a higher quality of produce. However, pesticides are also toxic chemicals designed to kill agricultural pests, and some can cause problems if they are consumed by humans in large amounts.
What are 5 harmful substances?
Chemicals and Toxics TopicsFormaldehyde.Mercury.Lead.Asbestos.Hazardous/Toxic Air Pollutants.Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)Pesticide Chemicals. Glyphosate.Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
What are the 3 harmful substances?
Three Common Harmful Substances and Signs of ExposureAsbestos. Asbestos is a material used in a wide variety of applications, including pipe insulation, drywall, flooring, ceiling insulation, and roofing. ... Pesticides. Exterminators use pesticides to kill insects and other pests at your home or business. ... Paint Fumes.
What are six harmful substances in food production?
7 'Toxins' in Food That Are Actually ConcerningRefined vegetable and seed oils. Refined vegetable and seed oils include corn, sunflower, safflower, soybean, and cottonseed oils. ... Bisphenol A and similar compounds. ... Artificial trans fats. ... Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. ... Coumarin in cinnamon. ... Added sugars. ... Mercury in fish.
How can we prevent harmful substances in food production?
TIPS TO AVOID TOXIC CHEMICALS IN FOOD: Limit canned food and plastic containers. Glass, stainless steel and lead- free. ... Avoid non-stick pans. ... Popcorn the old fashioned way. ... Filter your drinking water. ... Buy organic when possible. ... Avoid food dyes. ... Tell Congress to fix our broken laws.
What is definition of harmful substance?
(c) "Harmful chemical substance" means a solid, liquid, or gas that through its chemical or physical properties, along or in combination with one or more other chemical substances, can be used to cause death, injury or disease in humans, animals or plants.
What are harmful substances in the environment?
Hazardous substances (like fireworks and gasoline) can cause major damage in the event of an accident. Furthermore, emissions of chemicals to air and water can cause long-term negative effects for human health or the environment.
What are the examples of harmful?
The definition of harmful is something that causes damage or is able to be hurtful. A chemical that causes you to become sick is an example of a chemical that would be described as harmful. Of a kind likely to be damaging; injurious. Wear a hat to protect your skin from harmful sunlight.
How does the use of harmful substances in crop farming affect food production?
Application of these chemicals onto crops also causes them to be released into the atmosphere as harmful air pollutants. Agricultural run-off from heavy rains removes chemicals from the site of food production and transports them to other locations, polluting soils, waterways, and other ecosystems.
How can harmful substance in food production cause ill health?
When undesirable chemicals end up in food, they could cause health effects, such as allergic reactions and/or adverse effects on organs or physiology (toxic effects). The risk of health effects from most chemicals is negligible, since the amounts permitted in food in the Netherlands are low.
How does food production contribute to the spread of disease?
Sometimes, by the time a food causes illness, it has been mishandled in several ways along the food production chain. Once contamination occurs, further mishandling, such as undercooking the food or leaving it out on the counter at an unsafe temperature, can make a foodborne illness more likely.
Why is food production bad for the environment?
Industrial agriculture harms the environment through pollution of air, soil and water. Air emissions from livestock operations make up 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Conventional crop production degrades soil health and causes soil erosion.
Why is food production important?
This makes complete sense, but it’s important that those operating these facilities don’t lose focus on worker safety as well. Food production is no different than a manufacturing floor.
How to protect from hazardous chemicals?
Protection from hazardous chemicals begins with education. Ensure that not only are SDSs available to your workforce, but that they’ve been trained on the chemicals used in the workspace, including relevant first aid, what to do in the event of a release, and identifying characteristics.
What are slip and fall hazards?
Slip, trip, and fall hazards exist in just about every workplace. The difference becomes the number of hazards, the severity of those hazards, and the conditions of the surrounding workplace that contribute to the severity of the hazard. Tripping over an upturned corner of a mat, for instance, is bad and can result in any number of injuries. Tripping over an upturned corner of a mat and crashing into a hazardous substance or an unguarded machine is significantly worse. A thorough hazard analysis of your facility should focus a great deal of attention on where these slip, trip, and fall hazards are hiding.
What is machine guarding in food production?
Machine Guarding. Just as in any manufacturing facility, food production could have machinery that includes rolling parts, blades, and presses among other things. This machinery presents pinch-points that could result in injury, amputations, or death if not properly protected.
Is ammonia a hazardous substance?
Ammonia, for example, is a common refrigerant due to its thermodynamic properties and its low cost. It is a very hazardous substance, albeit one that in smaller amounts will drive people away from it because of its irritating characteristics. However, that doesn’t mean that you don’t need to protect your work force. Releases in confined spaces or quick, large releases could lead to severe illness and death.
Is food production a manufacturing floor?
Food production is no different than a manufacturing floor. Many similar hazards exist, some even compounded by the addition of food products and/or the precautions being taken to keep those products safe for consumption. The following are some prime examples of hazards endangering your employees as opposed to the ones that are endangering your ...
Do food processing plants have blades?
Blades are a pretty common sight in a food processing plant, indicating that protection against lacerations should also be common. Review procedures to determine what could be done mechanically, thereby eliminating the possibility of injury, what needs guarding, and where you’ll need PPE, such as cut resistant gloves.
What is hydrogenation in food?
The process of hydrogenation is to heat up liquid oil to high temperatures so it becomes a solid fat. Manufacturers claim this enhances the taste and 'mouth feel' of the foods they produce as well as extend shelf life. This very process changes the chemical structure of the oil and turns it into a 'trans fat'.
What happens if a substance is not from the earth?
If a substance is not from the earth, then it is man made and if it is man made, then it has no place in the food we eat.
Why should I avoid fast food?
Fast food joints that sell fried food are best avoided because you have no idea how often they change their oil. The more the oil is re-heated and re-used, the more oxidised it gets - basically, more and more free radicals are created. Free radicals is like rust in the body and if you do not consume anti-oxidants (found in fresh whole foods particularly fruits and vegetables) you could be setting yourself up for some serious health problems in the future.
Does flour deplete your body?
Like white sugar, white flour will deplete our body of nutrients. Why? Because it contains no nutrients your body then has to draw on its own reserves and if those reserves are in short supply, you are heading for trouble.
Is a fizzy drink bad for you?
Fizzy drinks again are empty calories. They contribute nothing to your health except extra calories. No wonder the rates of childhood obesity are reaching epidemic levels. Further, more and more children are being diagnosed with type two diabetes. Up until a few years ago, this was an adult onset health issue - not any more.
Is hydrogenated oil better than plastic?
Indeed, hydrogenated oils have no health benefits whatsoever. It is no better than eating plastic. Your body cannot process plastic so how it is supposed to process hybridized oil is anyone's guess.
Is white flour a processed food?
White flour, like white sugar is found in a countless array of foods - again all processed. I've lost count of the number of times clients have come to me and say they are trying to cut out wheat because they are having a hard time digesting it. This really does not surprise me considering it is found in just about everything you can think of, even salads, salad dressings and roast potatoes!
How does food cause illness?
Sometimes, by the time a food causes illness, it has been mishandled in several ways along the food production chain. Once contamination occurs, further mishandling, such as undercooking the food or leaving it out on the counter at an unsafe temperature, can make a foodborne illness more likely. Many germs grow quickly in food held at room temperature; a tiny number can grow to a large number in just a few hours. Reheating or boiling food after it has been left at room temperature for a long time does not always make it safe because some germs produce toxins that are not destroyed by heat.
Why is food contaminated in a truck?
If refrigerated food is left on a loading dock for long time in warm weather, it could reach temperatures that allow bacteria to grow. Fresh produce can be contaminated if it is loaded into a truck that was not cleaned after transporting animals or animal products.
What happens if you contaminate surfaces?
If germs contaminate surfaces used for food processing, such as a processing line or storage bins, germs can spread to foods that touch those surfaces .
Why is it not safe to reheat food?
Reheating or boiling food after it has been left at room temperature for a long time does not always make it safe because some germs produce toxins that are not destroyed by heat.
What is processing in food?
Processing. Processing means changing plants or animals into what we recognize and buy as food. Processing involves different steps for different kinds of foods. For produce, processing can be as simple as washing and sorting, or it can involve trimming, slicing, or shredding.
What is the meaning of production?
Production. Production means growing the plants we harvest or raising the animals we use for food. Most food comes from domesticated animals and plants, and their production occurs on farms or ranches. Some foods are caught or harvested from the wild, such as some fish, mushrooms, and game. Production means growing the plants we har vest ...
What does production mean in agriculture?
Production means growing the plants we harvest or raising the animals we use for food.

Slips, Trips, and Falls
Machine Guarding
- Just as in any manufacturing facility, food production could have machinery that includes rolling parts, blades, and presses among other things. This machinery presents pinch-points that could result in injury, amputations, or death if not properly protected. A full review of your equipment and its guarding needs to be done to ensure workers aren’t placing themselves or parts of their bodi…
Harmful Substances
- Many harmful substances can be used in food production (not necessarily on or in the food). Ammonia, for example, is a common refrigerant due to its thermodynamic properties and its low cost. It is a very hazardous substance, albeit one that in smaller amounts will drive people away from it because of its irritating characteristics. However, that d...
Noise
- Machinery has the tendency to be loud. It’s important that you evaluate your facility for noise hazards. As with the hazardous substances, if a noise hazard exists, but can be eliminated, then that’s the route you should take. If that’s not possible, engineering out the hazard is your next step per the hierarchy of controls. Can the equipment be made differently or can it be guarded in a w…
Electrical
- Machinery needs power. With great power comes great responsibility…to protect your workers from it. Inspections of wiring, protections of energized parts, grounding of equipment, GFCI protection, and lockout/tagout programs are all considerations in a food production facility. Keep in mind that lockout/tagout is not limited to electrical hazards. Any potential unexpected startup …
Cut Hazards
- Blades are a pretty common sight in a food processing plant, indicating that protection against lacerations should also be common. Review procedures to determine what could be done mechanically, thereby eliminating the possibility of injury, what needs guarding, and where you’ll need PPE, such as cut resistant gloves. And always make sure your blades are sharp. Accordin…
Conclusion
- While this is by no means a comprehensive list of the hazards you could encounter in your food processing facility, it certainly gives you a strong starting point for your hazard analysis. A thorough analysis could raise fall hazards - specifically ones where employees are working over dangerous equipment, heat or cold stress issues, forklift hazards, and more. Ensure that the pro…
Production
Processing
- Processing means changing plants or animals into what we recognize and buy as food. Processing involves different steps for different kinds of foods. For produce, processing can be as simple as washing and sorting, or it can involve trimming, slicing, or shredding. Milk is usually processed by pasteurizing it; sometimes it is made into cheese. Nuts may be roasted, chopped, …
Distribution
- Distribution means getting food from the farm or processing plant to the consumer or a food service facility like a restaurant, cafeteria, or hospital kitchen. This step might involve transporting foods just once, such as trucking produce from a farm to the local farmers’ market. Or it might involve many stages. For instance, frozen hamburger patties might be trucked from a meat proc…
Preparation
- Preparation means getting the food ready to eat. This step may occur in the kitchen of a restaurant, home, or institution. It may involve following a complex recipe with many ingredients, simply heating and serving a food on a plate, or just opening a package and eating the food.
Mishandling at Multiple Points
- Sometimes, by the time a food causes illness, it has been mishandled in several ways along the food production chain. Once contamination occurs, further mishandling, such as undercooking the food or leaving it out on the counter at an unsafe temperature, can make a foodborne illness more likely. Many germs grow quickly in food held at room temperat...