Did you know that in a day, 1,600,000 people (on average) around the world get sick due to unsafe food? If you find this data by the World Health Organization (WHO) astounding, then wait, there’s more. The WHO says that on average, around 340 children under the age of 5 years die due to preventable foodborne diseases every day. There are also roughly 200 diseases, ranging from diarrhea to cancers, that are caused by the consumption of unsafe food.
Clearly, food safety is a critical issue for people around the globe, no matter what our nationa, regional, religious or gender identities. To unify the world around this critical matter of food safety, the WHO observes June 7 every year as World Food Safety Day. In 2023, the WHO’s focus is on preventing foodborne illnesses through the global application of food safety standards.
To this effect, the WHO has also repeatedly published rules and guidelines for safe food preparation at home and beyond. These guidelines are meant to promote safe food handling practices at home and reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Following them can help ensure that the food you prepare and consume is safe and healthy.
Video Credit: YouTube/World Health Organization
If you are keen on keeping your family safe, then as a home cook, food safety starts with you. Here are all the WHO guidelines for safe food preparation that you should focus on and also teach others about.
Keep Clean
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of handwashing as a food safety measure has been doubly popularized, and for good reason. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling food, after using the restroom, and after handling raw meat, poultry, fish, or eggs. Clean and sanitize kitchen utensils, cutting boards, and surfaces regularly. If you have a wound or infection, make sure you don’t touch it and then touch the food.
Separate Raw And Cooked
Even if you maintain other hygiene and food safety parameters, there is still a risk of corss-contamination if you do not keep raw and cooked foods separate. Keep raw and cooked foods separate to avoid cross-contamination. Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw and cooked food. Store them in separate containers and keep them separate in the refrigerator.
Cook Thoroughly
This measure can ensure that you and your loved ones stay safe from all kinds of foodborne illnesses, ranging from salmonella to cholera. Indians anyways cook most foods, including meat and fish, until fully cooked, but still, be cautious. Ensure that food, especially meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood, is cooked thoroughly to kill any harmful bacteria or parasites. Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of cooked food if needed.
Store At Safe Temperatures
A refrigerator is a very handy appliance, but you need to be cautious about how you use it. Keeping hot or warm foods in a refrigerator is a big no-no, so cool your cooked food completely before refrigerating them. Refrigerate perishable foods promptly (within two hours) and keep them at a temperature of 5°C (41°F) or below. Keep hot foods hot (above 60°C/140°F) to prevent the growth of bacteria.
Use Safe Ingredients
Safe water and safe fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, etc are the key foundations of food safety in the home kitchen. Use safe and clean water for cooking and preparing food. Ensure that raw materials, including fruits, vegetables, and meats, are fresh and of good quality. Buy locally and from known vendors or brands and beware of any diseases like bird flu which affect the livestock suppliers around you.
Handle Food With Care
Again, the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other seasonal viral infections have taught us the value of this food safety rule. Avoid touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands. Use utensils, gloves, or other appropriate means. Do not cough, sneeze, or spit near food. Cover your mouth and nose and use tissues when necessary. If you don’t take these steps, your germs can pass on easily to others.
Practice Personal Hygiene
The hand that cooks has to take more responsibility for food safety, and this is a fact no home cook can deny. So, the cook has to maintain good hygiene habits in and beyond the kitchen. Maintain good personal hygiene habits, such as keeping your hair tied back, wearing clean clothing, and avoiding touching your face unnecessarily.
Avoid Expired Products
Shop-bought products have expiration dates written clearly for good reason—beyond that date, the nutrient value of the food decreases and the product spoils or becomes tainted. So, check the expiration dates on food products and avoid using or consuming expired items. Discard any food that shows signs of spoilage, such as a strange odor, mold growth, or a change in color or texture.
Handle Leftovers Properly
When hot cooked foods cool down to room temperature, they immediately become hotbeds for microbes. So, eat cooked foods immediately and handle leftovers cautiously. Store leftovers in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking. Use shallow containers to facilitate rapid cooling. Reheat leftovers thoroughly before consuming.
Educate And Inform
Educate yourself and your family members about safe food handling practices. Stay informed about food recalls, advisories, and other relevant information related to food safety. Being on top of food-related and health-related news can help maintain food safety just as much as getting regular and thorough health checkups done with medical professionals.
