Tips for Preventing Food Poisoning

Nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, cramps, and diarrhea are some of the problems caused by food poisoning, which is frequently seen during hot weather. In some cases, high fever and severe headaches may accompany these symptoms. Worse still, in rare cases it can result in loss of life. According to the World Health Organization, foodborne illnesses caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins and chemical substances transmitted through food affect approximately 600 million people worldwide each year. According to Health Ministry data, approximately 5 million people in our country face food poisoning problems annually. In most food poisoning cases, the carrier food is meat, eggs, milk or seafood products. When foods are packaged, stored and prepared under poor conditions, microorganisms in food multiply and the toxins they secrete lead to food poisoning. So what should we do to protect ourselves from this unhealthy situation, and what should we avoid? Ayça Güleryüz, Nutrition and Dietetics Specialist at Acibadem Bakırköy Hospital, shared the precautions you should take against food poisoning and shared important recommendations.

Eggs: Never wash them when placing in the refrigerator.

Eggs, which contain the highest quality protein after breast milk, can cause food poisoning. The first thing you should pay attention to in this regard is to be careful to purchase eggs that are kept in refrigerated cases in markets. Also avoid cracked or broken eggs, as damaged surfaces can cause bacterial growth. Never wash eggs when placing them in the refrigerator, because when washed, the holes in their surfaces expand and as a result bacterial growth increases. If you store eggs on the refrigerator door, make sure they don't come into contact with other foods.

Chicken: Do not allow chicken liquid to come into contact with raw foods

The most dangerous situation for chicken is contamination with salmonella bacteria. For these microorganisms to die, you need to cook thoroughly. The internal temperature of all chicken pieces should reach at least 70 degrees. However, be careful! When washing chicken before cooking, the chicken liquid that splashes into the surroundings or remains on the cutting board you use can affect raw foods that you will consume without cooking (lettuce, tomato, cucumber etc.). For this reason, to prevent cross-contamination during the cooking phase, never neglect to wash your counter, the knives and boards you use to cut meat, your sink, other places where you put meat, and your hands with soap and hot water before you start cooking.

Ice cream: Pay attention to ice crystals inside!

Don't forget that ice cream, which is loved by people of all ages because of its cooling properties on hot summer days, can also cause food poisoning. Since its raw material is milk, ice cream, like all dairy products, is among the flavors susceptible to spoilage and microorganism growth. If you prefer packaged ice cream, do not buy packages that are frosted or contain ice crystals inside. Because frozen and icy packages can mean the package has thawed and refrozen or is very old. Also pay careful attention to expiration dates. If you buy ice cream sold openly, the hygiene of the vendor is very important. The spoon used for ice cream must be clean and changed very frequently.

Fruits and vegetables: Wash thoroughly with plenty of water

No doubt everyone loves summer fruits. In this season, leafy greens also increase and salads become richer. However, Nutrition and Dietetics Specialist Ayça Güleryüz warns that vegetables and fruits can also cause bacterial food poisoning. Vegetables and fruits can produce germs in several ways.