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Avoid food poisoning this summer
Avoid food poisoning this summer
It’s estimated that as many as five million Australians each year suffer from food-related illnesses.
Of these cases around 10 to 20 per cent are thought to be the result of poor food handling or storage by people in their own homes.
Hunter New England Health Public Health physician Dr Tony Merritt said there was often an increase in the number of food-related illnesses at Christmas and throughout the summer.
"Summer is a time of higher risk for food poisoning because the weather is warmer, the fridge is overloaded and we’re cooking for more people than we usually do. It can make for perfect conditions for food poisoning bugs to multiply leading to food poisoning," Dr Merritt said.
"The last thing we want is for our guests to become sick with food poisoning. Unfortunately, this is too often what happens.
"Following a few simple rules can make for a safe and enjoyable summer, and minimise the risk of illness," Dr Merritt said.
·* Prepare foods as close as possible to eating time.
* Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw meat and poultry, and wash them thoroughly before further use.
·* Cook foods thoroughly. Meat dishes need to be fully cooked.
*If you cook large amounts of food in advance, divide it into smaller portions or shallow containers, cover and place in fridge or freezer.
* Refrigerate leftovers immediately after the meal.
·*Wash hands before preparing foods and immediately after handling raw meat or raw chicken. Wash hands with soap and warm water and dry thoroughly.
* Keep food at a safe temperature - less than five degrees Celsius or more than 60 degrees Celsius.
"And always remember that the best rule of thumb is ‘if in doubt, throw it out’," Dr Merritt said.
"The average home kitchen and barbeque is often not designed to cater for large numbers of people so additional care with handling food may be required.
"People who have had recent symptoms of gastroenteritis should not prepare food until at least 48 hours have passed since symptoms resolved."
Contact: Tanya Carlyle
Phone: (02) 4939 2602
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