In food safety, what does hygiene refer to?

Hygiene in the context of food safety encompasses a broad range of practices designed to maintain health and effectively prevent the spread of pathogens. This includes not only personal cleanliness, which is an important aspect of hygiene, but also involves proper practices across various food handling processes, such as handwashing, maintaining clean environments, and ensuring safe food storage and preparation techniques.

By focusing on these comprehensive practices, food safety hygiene aims to minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Addressing hygiene as a holistic approach also underscores the importance of safe food handling throughout the food supply chain, from production to consumption, thereby reducing the likelihood of contamination.

While personal cleanliness, cooking techniques, and equipment cleanliness are all components of food safety, they are more specific elements that fall under the broader umbrella of hygiene practices necessary to ensure safe food handling and preparation.