Food poisoning may happen to anyone whether you get the food from the party or you prepare it yourself in your home. The victims you don’t want to suffer from it when it happens are your kids. Food poisoning is an issue not everyone should take for granted. In fact, we should be particular of what we put into our food and how we prepare them.
While the best way to avoid illness and poisoning is to wash our hands and the utensils we use in preparing our food, there are also any other factors that contribute to the increase of risk of food poisoning, and if you are not vigilant about if you may found yourself as a victim of food poisoning.
Aside from the worst of food poisoning, the least that could happen is the experience of rushing in to the nearest bathroom because you eat something. While we enjoy the perks of being a cook and the food we cook, it is a must also that we know what we are preparing.
Consuming contaminated food also have health risks to us especially to our children. While we can have diarrhea, the worst could be unimaginable. The reasons behind are not summed up alone with the unlikely ingredients we mix into our meals but also the bacteria that could grow in foods before eaten.
And here are some of the reminders that we should always remember to avoid poisoning and to prevent the bacteria from growing. It only needs some common sense:
- Don’t leave your food out
The temperature has been found out to be one of the key elements that could contribute to the growth of bacteria in a particular food. Those food which were left out at room temperature are most likely to be prime source of food poisoning basically because the spores and toxins that the bacteria released can flourish at this temperature.
According to Grabrielle Judd, a registered dietician with the University of Maryland Medical Center, the spores thrive in the danger zone of 40-140 degrees Fahrenheit. She added that food should not be out for more than two hours at a time.
- Be wary of raw poultry
Bacteriologist Andrew Roe from the University of Glasgow, who states more than 500,000 cases of food poisoning in the U.K. are caused by chicken-loving bacteria.
“At least half of all raw chicken carcasses carry significant levels of campylobacter,” he said.
Furthermore, he said that four out of five cases [of food poisoning] are from contaminated poultry and that food borne illness likely comes from improper thawing/preparation of meats.
- Learn the perils of minced meats
Minced meat which could be usually observed from burgers are potent source of infection. Roe said that mince products are inherently more risky.
While steak is an intact piece of meat and the contamination could only develop on the surface, in the minced meat—contamination could be mixed into the blend. If not cooked thoroughly, learn to reject it.
- Wash your fruit
Contamination are most likely to develop on the surface, so be sure you wash them carefully as various bacteria can be naturally found on the surfaces or skins of vegetables and fruits.
- Reheat your leftovers thoroughly
In a single dining, it could be almost predictable that we will be keeping leftovers. But when you prepare it the other day, be sure you kill the bacteria by reheating it properly. To ensure that any bacteria have died, you should have a steaming dish.
We hope these were helpful. Share this to help your friends and family online. Have a nice day ahead.
Source: http://edition.cnn.com/