Food poisoning! I’m sure it has happened to many people. So how can we prevent food poisoning? Yes! In this article, I will tell you the points you need to pay attention to avoid food poisoning. Let’s look at how to prevent food poisoning under 7 items.
How to Prevent Food Poisoning?
The Most Important Rule: Hygiene
The first thing I will say is, of course, hygiene. Remember to wash your hands frequently. Also, make sure that the utensils you use in the kitchen (cloths, cutting boards, knives, aprons, pots, jars, etc.) are clean because there are various microorganisms in them. But not all of them are dangerous. That is, they do not cause poisoning. You can read the article about the microorganisms that cause food poisoning in detail here.
Cleaning of Food
It is also necessary to pay attention to the cleanliness of the food. Especially the fruits and vegetables that we will consume raw should be washed well.
Prevent Cross Contamination
Keep raw and cooked foods separate. This way, you can avoid cross-contamination. The possibility of pathogenic microorganisms is higher in raw foods. For example, do not keep raw meat in the same place as a cooked meal or the cutting board, knife, etc., for raw meat. Do not use the utensils for any other food.
The Power of Cooking!
With the cooking process, pathogenic microorganisms are significantly reduced. Food must be cooked to a safe temperature. You can use household food thermometers to determine this. Especially animal products such as meat, chicken, and fish should be cooked thoroughly.
Don’t Forget Cooling
Quickly cool your cooked food (within 2 hours) and put it in the refrigerator. This way you can slow down the growth rate of microorganisms because most microorganisms grow more slowly below 5 ˚C.
Beware of Frozen Foods
Safely thaw food that you take out of the freezer. Otherwise, you may be exposed to rapidly multiplying microorganisms. Thawing slowly in the refrigerator is one of the best ways. It is also necessary to be careful when buying frozen food. Frozen food with a broken cold chain can be quite dangerous.
Be Sure to Check the Expiry Date
Do not consume foods past their expiration date. The expiry date and the recommended consumption date need to be clarified. It refers to the recommended consumption date and the period during which the food retains its unique properties. If you do not see any signs of deterioration in the food in your hand during this period, you can consume it. However, foods past the expiration date should not be consumed. Because the expression is used for foods susceptible to spoilage by microorganisms, pay attention to it while shopping. You can also see these expressions on different products.
As a result, you can prevent food poisoning with simple precautions you can take in your kitchen. Of course, these are precautions that you can take yourself in the home environment. Being careful in public dining places such as restaurants and holiday environments is also necessary. In these cases, you cannot intervene in preparations such as cooking preparation or raw material selection. You can choose to eat in safe and clean environments. In such cases, it would be good to consume cooked food.
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