How to Prevent Food Poisoning

Food poisoning or food borne illness occurs in a person due to the intake of food stuffs that contain bacteria which contaminates the food. Common symptoms of food poisoning are stomach pain, vomiting, fever and headache. Severe cases of food poisoning can lead to diarrhea as well as dehydration. Food poisoning normally affects people with a weak immune system, especially children, old people and also pregnant women. Usually, people recover within days after experiencing food poisoning, however there have been a few cases of death too due to food borne diseases.

It is commonly believed that food poisoning occurs only after eating food from restaurants. However, this assumption is not true at all. Food poisoning can happen even after eating home cooked food. This occurs mostly due to negligence while cooking food. It is very essential that one should take extra precaution while preparing meals. It is also very important that you keep your home, especially your kitchen area clean and hygienic to prevent any cases of food poisoning.

Prevention Methods

• Bacteria is the main cause of food poisoning and it can be present in various food items. It can also be passed from our hands to the food we eat. So, it is important to wash one's hands well with anti-bacterial soap before starting to cook.
• The main source of bacteria is through food products, especially meat, seafood and poultry. When one buys these products, it is essential to check the date of package. Once it is brought home it should be refrigerated, if not going to be immediately used. Care should also be taken while refrigerating these meats as they should be packed separately and also in different containers.
• While cooking meat, it is very important to wash and clean it thoroughly. Consume these meat products only after it is fully cooked. Utmost care should be taken while selecting and cooking fish and shell-fish, as they are the major source of spreading bacteria.
• Even vegetables and fruits can contain harmful bacteria and should be washed thoroughly before eating. Diary products should also be handled properly. Such products, if not used for a long time are likely to develop fungus and should be disposed off at once. One should only use pasteurized milk as milk that is not pasteurized has a high risk of causing food poisoning.
• Once food is taken out from the refrigerator, it should be heated immediately and not kept at room temperature for a long period of time. One must not eat cold food and should re-heat stored food properly before consumption.
• One more important precaution that a person should take to avoid food poisoning is to clean all the kitchen equipments properly. Knives, spoons, vessels and cutting boards should be rinsed with anti-bacterial soap after every use and especially after cutting and making meat products. One should also serve food in plates and bowls that are thoroughly cleaned.
• Also avoid keeping cooked food at room temperatures for a long period of time. It would be better if food is frozen two hours after preparing it. If you are buying canned food, then it is important to check the expiry date and also read the instructions given for ways of storage.

These precautions are crucial steps for avoiding food borne diseases. Following them would keep you and your family safe from the dangers of food poisoning.