How to avoid Food Poisoning this Summer?

Symptoms of Food Poisoning

The symptoms of food poisoning can vary depending on the underlying cause, but most people report one or more of the following symptoms of food poisoning-

• Nausea and vomiting

• Loose motions

• Blood in stools

• Fever (with or without body ache and chills)

• Abdominal cramps

• Weakness and dullness

• Loss of appetite

Summer Food Poisoning: How to prevent it ?

Listed below are tips to help you avoid food poisoning over summer.

1. Food Storage

With food that needs refrigeration, it’s important to ensure your fridge is kept at the right temperature. Ideally, the fridge should be kept below 5 degrees, while the freezer should be kept between -15 degrees Celsius and -18 degrees Celsius. Also, avoid overfilling your fridge or freezer as it may not be effective in keeping food at a safe temperature. In case of uncooked meat, ensure they are stocked on lower shelves because raw meats have juices that could spill and contaminate other food items, leading to food poisoning.

2. Cook food thoroughly

It’s important to prepare meat or seafood carefully before cooking. You should also make sure they’re cooked properly as undercooked or raw meat can contain harmful germs. When cooking seafood, poultry or meat, make sure your food is steaming hot in the middle before serving because your food has to reach the right temperature for any harmful bacteria to be killed. For instance, this is 62C (145F) for fresh pork and fish, 71C for eggs and red meat, and 74C for poultry, cooked ham and all leftovers.

3. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before you eat them

If you’re making a salad or packing fruit and vegetables, rinse everything under running water -- even if they have a tough, outer rind that you don't plan on eating. You can also clean firm-skinned fruit and vegetables with a vegetable brush.

4. Keep raw and cooked food separate

Raw meat, seafood, eggs and dairy can spread germs to the rest of your food if you don’t take steps to keep them separate. To avoid this, you can either pack them separately at time of buying or keep raw meat in sealable containers at the bottom of your fridge – this will prevent the meat from dripping onto other foods, and minimise the risk of cross-contamination

5. Wash your hands and keep cooking areas clean

Many germs can live on countertops and other surfaces, so make sure you wash your utensils, cutting boards and worktops with hot, soapy water whenever you are preparing food. You should also try to wash your hands before and after handling food.

6. Avoid eating outside food as much as possible

The chances of getting food poisoning from outside cooked food are higher than getting it from home-cooked food. Avoid eating from street vendors if they have an unhygienic cooking space, as these are the breeding grounds of germs and other bacteria causing various stomach ailments like diarrhoea and food poisoning. 

When to see a Doctor?

Most cases of food poisoning can be treated at home by following the treatment prescribed by a doctor. The symptoms may be unpleasant but they generally pass after a week or so and you should be able to manage your symptoms by resting and drinking plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. However, you need to be more vigilant and talk to your doctor immediately if you are over 60 years of age or new mother, or pregnant, or have a weak immune system.

How to manage food poisoning at home?

•  Follow the treatment and diet restrictions prescribed by your doctor.

• Avoid eating spicy, oily, solid foods. Take bland and easy to digest foods in small frequent portions such as curd rice, khichdi, mashed boiled potato, coconut water, and buttermilk.

• Avoid alcoholic, caffeinated or sugary drinks.

• Replace fluids lost by diarrhoea or vomiting with drinking water or oral rehydration therapy.

• Don’t take antibiotics or anti-diarrhoea medications without consulting a doctor.

• Monitor your vitals – temperature, pulse and blood pressure