A government guide to healthy food

Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Prince Mansour bin Miteb has approved the release of a guide to healthy food. The guide, prepared by the ministerial agency for municipal affairs, contains several tips promoting a safe and healthy diet to protect consumers from food-borne diseases. The ministry embarked on this initiative as part of its keenness to increase the awareness of citizens with regard to healthy and hygienic food. The “Guide about food-borne diseases,” is aimed at those who work in the food safety and health sector. It describes how diseases usually spread through food and notes the major diseases caused by contaminated food, in addition to the preventive measures to be taken against them, the Saudi Press Agency reported yesterday. Food-borne illness usually arises from improper handling, preparation or food storage. Good hygienic practices before, during and after food preparation can reduce the chances of contracting an illness. The guide sketches the ideal health practices and food manufacturing methods that help guarantee safety of food from bacteria contamination as well as from a higher concentration of chemical substances that may cause various diseases. It also contains a detailed description of diseases caused by various types of food poisoning, such as microbial poisoning, chemical toxin and natural poisoning by extreme exposure to sun rays. Consumption of food contaminated by bacteria, viruses and parasites could also lead to several contagious diseases, the guide warns consumers. Food-borne disease can also be caused by a large variety of toxins that affect the environment, it points out.