The festive season is wonderful – but it’s also a time for increased incidence of tummy bugs from food-borne illness due to the combined impact of warmer weather, the number of functions or events we attend and how much we eat.
Public health experts say the rate of food-borne illnesses such as gastroenteritis often increases over summer because bacteria grows more quickly in foods if they are left out of the fridge.
You can reduce their chances of getting a food-borne illness by taking simple measures when preparing and storing food. Here are 14 food safety tips to help you make sure you, or someone else you know, isn’t spending too much time in the bathroom over the holiday break!
1. Store foods such as meat, dairy products and other perishable goods in the fridge until needed
2. Ensure leftovers are not unrefrigerated for longer than two hours
3. Cover food to prevent contamination by dust or insects
4. Throw out foods containing meat or dairy products that have been left out for more than 4 hours
5. Cook all meats thoroughly, taking extra care with chicken and minced meat products
6. Have an esky of ice or ice bricks to keep meats and other foods cold at barbecues and picnics
7. Check the use-by dates on all food
8. Wash hands with soap and water before handling food
9. Wash hands immediately after handling raw meat
10.Avoid cross contamination by preparing and storing raw meats separately from cooked and ready-to-eat foods
11.Ensure utensils used on raw meats, such as tongs, chopping boards and knives, were washed before being used with ready-to-eat foods
12.Allow leftovers to cool in the fridge soon after cooking
13.Keep leftovers no longer than three days in the fridge
14.Re-heat leftovers to steaming hot temperature
15.Wash fruit and vegetables in clean running water before eating
16.Don’t rely on smell as some bad food bacteria may not produce a bad odour or taste.
Food poisoning symptoms can take days to develop. If you think you are unwell from eating contaminated food, consult a doctor as soon as possible and make a list of the food you have eaten in the previous 48 hours. If you have eaten in a restaurant, make sure you let them know too.