After the flood passed, images of relief goods such as food, drinks for people appeared on social networks.
Many volunteer groups and individuals vacuum-pack bread, dumplings, ham, processed meat, etc. in the hope that the goods will be safe when sent to flood victims in the northern provinces and cities.
However, many netizens and experts believe that this is not the way to ensure food safety.
Deputy Director of the Department of Food Safety ( Ministry of Health ) Tran Viet Nga said that among this year's relief goods, many types of banh chung, banh mi and many types of food made by groups or households are vacuum-packed to preserve them during transportation and distribution to people in flood-affected areas.
Self-processing, packaging and vacuuming food can help extend the shelf life of food, but there may be a risk of food safety due to unsanitary processing leading to the risk of food contamination, especially anaerobic bacteria contamination (bacteria that grow in an environment lacking air), producing toxins that cause poisoning to users.
One of the anaerobic bacteria that often causes poisoning in canned foods and vacuum-packed foods is Clostridium botulinum.
Also according to Dr. Tran Viet Nga, when processing food and vacuum packaging to support people in storm and flood areas, it is necessary to pay attention to choosing foods suitable for vacuum packaging such as: dried meat, dried fish, popcorn, rice popcorn; types of cakes with leaves wrapped in leaves that are processed and cooked thoroughly such as banh chung. After removing the cake, it should be placed in a clean place, squeezed to drain the water, and let cool before vacuum packaging; When packaging and vacuuming, a piece of paper with the production date written on it should be placed inside the packaging film so that the transporter and the user know and arrange the appropriate time for distribution and use.
"We should support self-processed, vacuum-packed foods for areas with short transportation times to ensure that people can access food support as soon as possible after processing," Dr. Nga emphasized.
For those who use relief food, it is necessary to check the packaging of the food distributed and aided before eating; absolutely do not use expired food, canned food that is swollen, flattened, deformed, rusty, has an unusual smell or color; Canned food that is not swollen, but when opened makes a "hissing" sound, meaning there is air inside, and has a "strong smell" should not be used to prevent contamination with anaerobic bacteria, especially botulinum toxin.
For foods made by the supporter such as banh chung, banh day... that are handmade, self-packaged, and sealed with vacuum-sealed film, before use, it is necessary to observe carefully. If there are air bubbles inside the film, the film is bulging, or when the film is opened, the food is slimy, moldy, has an unusual smell or taste, absolutely do not use it.
Source: https://laodong.vn/suc-khoe/bao-quan-su-dung-thuc-pham-do-an-cuu-tro-dung-cach-1395059.ldo
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