Whether you are a home chef or an exclusively take-out person, food poisoning and its effects are no fun.
In fact, the CDC claims that around one in six people get sick from food poisoning every year and about three thousand people die from it. Don’t put your life at risk.
Store-bought, made, self-brought, or wherever your next meal may come from, follow along to learn the dos and the don’ts of how to avoid food poisoning!
Food Poisoning
What is food poisoning? You get food foodborne diseases from eating contaminated, spoiled, or toxic food. Usually, it is not serious and you can get better after a few days even without treatment.
Food poisoning symptoms are high fever, frequent vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and nausea.
Wash Your Hands Thoroughly
You should wash your hands before you cook, after you use the bathroom, and after you handle raw meat. Use soap and water, and scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
If you don’t have access to soap and water, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, but make sure it contains at least 60% alcohol.
Cook Food Properly
They are considered healthy foods when meat is cooked through to the recommended internal temperature and vegetables are cooked until crisp-tender. Food should also be properly cooled before storing it in the refrigerator or freezer.
Avoid Cross-Contamination
Cross-contamination happens when bacteria or other contaminants are transferred from one food item to another. This can occur if food items come into contact with each other, or if they are prepared on the same surface without being properly cleaned in between.
To avoid cross-contamination, always keep raw food items and cooked food items separate. If you are preparing food on a cutting board, make sure to wash it thoroughly with soap and water between each use.
Do not Consume High-Risk Foods
This means avoiding undercooked or raw meats, unpasteurized dairy products, and unwashed fruits and vegetables. What if your family asks, can you eat raw shrimp? No! These foods can contain harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning.
To avoid these foods, cook meat, poultry, and eggs thoroughly; pasteurize milk and dairy products; and wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.
Cleanliness is Key to How to Avoid Food Poisoning
Clean all surfaces that come into contact with food, such as countertops, cutting boards, and knives. Make sure to wash all utensils, cutting boards, and countertops with hot water and soap to kill any bacteria.
If you do these things, you can help prevent the spread of bacteria that can cause food poisoning.
Don’t Let Food Sit Out
Bacteria can grow exponentially on food that is left out, especially if it is not kept at the proper temperature. So, if you’re not going to eat it right away, put it away!
This can be a challenge if you’re cooking for a large group of people, but it’s important to keep food refrigerated or in a cooler with ice if it’s going to be out for more than an hour. If you’re serving food that needs to be cooked, make sure it’s cooked thoroughly and promptly served.
Better Safe Than Sorry
The basic question is: “How to avoid food poisoning?” There are several ways to avoid as mentioned in this article.
However, the safest thing to do when in doubt is to throw it out! If you’re unsure about the safety of food, err on the side of caution and throw it out. It’s not worth taking the risk of getting sick.
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