What can you do to avoid food poisoning during the Lunar New Year holiday?

One of the most important things to help prevent food poisoning during the Lunar New Year is ensuring hygiene during food preparation. Cooks need to wash their hands before, during, and after cooking, especially when handling raw vegetables, according to The Conversation (Australia).

To prevent the risk of food poisoning, cutting boards and vegetable knives should be used separately from those used for cutting meat.

This thoroughness will significantly reduce the risk of food poisoning.

Furthermore, kitchen utensils such as cutting boards, knives, and scissors should be used separately for raw and cooked food to avoid cross-contamination. Using a knife previously used for cutting meat to cut vegetables can transfer bacteria that cause intestinal diseases from the raw meat to the vegetables. If contaminated vegetables are not properly cooked, they can easily cause food poisoning.

If possible, cooked food should be stored at a temperature of 60 degrees Celsius or higher. This can help kill any remaining bacteria.

Proper food storage and transportation also play a crucial role in preventing food poisoning. Pathogenic bacteria thrive in temperatures between 5 and 60 degrees Celsius. Therefore, if storing food in the refrigerator, the temperature should be below 5 degrees Celsius. If transporting food, insulated containers should be used to keep hot food at temperatures of 60 degrees Celsius or higher.

If storing food in the refrigerator, keep raw meat and seafood separate from cooked dishes or raw vegetables.

Additionally, if storing food in the refrigerator, raw meat and seafood should be kept separate from cooked dishes or raw vegetables. This will significantly reduce the risk of cross-contamination by bacteria.

It is also extremely important not to eat expired food. Therefore, consumers should check the expiration date before buying, preparing, or eating any food.

Furthermore, although rare, there are cases where food spoils even though it's still within its expiration date. Signs of spoiled food include changes in color, texture, and smell. If you notice these abnormalities, discard the food immediately, according to The Conversation.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/lam-gi-de-tranh-bi-ngo-doc-thuc-pham-trong-dip-nghi-tet-185240202145714245.htm