Tips to avoid food poisoning
Eating is an essential part of our life. However there may be times
when harmful bacteria can contaminate our food which can food poisoning. These can
be accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting and even severe stomach pains. At worst, food
poisoning can even cause death. Some of the various incidents have hit the headlines
in recent years, these are salmonella in eggs and poultry, listeria in ready-made
meals and cheese and botulism caused by contaminated yogurt.
Note that the food that is commonly hit by bacteria tend to be high in protein and
moisture. They are cooked meats, poultry, ready made meals, prepared salads, egg
and egg dishes(particularly those containing raw or partly cooked egg) and dairy
products.
To avoid the risk of food poisoning, here are some simple rules:
• Check the "sell" or "best before date" on packaged food. Do not eat the food beyond
the recommended period.
• Avoid food that look discolored, smells bad or of unpleasant taste
• Get chilled and frozen food home as quickly as possible and store it immediately.
• Store foods at the right temperature and check any special instruction on packs.
• Do not buy broken or swollen packages or cans
• Food cooked in advance should be cooled rapidly, covered and refrigerated. Don't
reheat food more than once.
• Keep your refrigerator clean and run it in the lowest setting. Do not overload
it.
• Wash hands before handling food and in between handling of raw and cooked food.
• Keep the kitchen clean
• Food should be stirred or rotated while cooking to avoid cold spots during microwaving.
• During cooking and reheating, foods should be heated to at least sixty degrees
celsius to kill any potential harmful bacteria
• Leftovers need to be refrigerated and if not used, thrown out after 24 hours
• Cook meat, eggs, poultry, gravies, custards, cream and other foods thoroughly
• Wash dishes in hot soapy water and leave dishes to drip dry. Dish clothes can
harbor bacteria so it must be changed frequently.