Food poisoning is an all too common foodborne illness which almost everyone has experienced at least once. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 48 million people get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die each year from foodborne illnesses. Foods that are not washed properly and cooked thoroughly inhabit germs that can cause sickness.
You may think you have a cast-iron stomach, but even a single bout of food poisoning can have serious consequences like diarrhea and vomiting for days.
You might give yourself credit for taking all the right precautions to stay safe from such an illness, but realistically, you could be infesting habits including cooking and food prep habits which could be more fatal than you realize.
Storing Leftovers
Our almost subconscious habit of storing leftovers is risky as cuts of meat, poultry and dairy have shorter leftover time period. Storing them in the fridge to be eaten later for longer than 24 hours can be dangerous for your stomach and body since it can cause bacteria to grow and infest on the food(s).
If you have leftovers sitting in your fridge for way past their consumption time, throw them out or reheat to repurpose them as “leftover” recipe.
Uncooked Meat
The number one reason of food poisoning is eating raw, uncooked meat. Nothing could be worse. The pink inside when you cut your meat is a clear indication to stay away from that plate of food. Raw meat and poultry contain bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli and Campylobacter. If not cooked properly, these bacteria can make you sick to the stomach.
Always cook or eat (when dining out) well cooked meat to avoid any episode of food poisoning.
Drying Dishes using a tea Towel
You really wouldn’t want to use a towel which is so overused by everyone and for other things like wiping down spills, to dry your plates and dishes. Tea towels and dish rags are quick to become contaminated with harmful germs. Especially if you don’t clean them frequently, they can foster bacteria which can lead to stomach cramps and bloody stools.
Instead of using a bacteria-infested towel to dry down your dishes, let them air-dry. This method would minimize the spread of the deadly bacteria to your plates. The only down-side, you’d have to wait a little longer for the dishes to dry.
Hoarding the refrigerator
Over-packing your fridge is another common yet overlooked cause of food poisoning. Cramming everything in every nook and corner of your fridge is bad for your health. An overfilled fridge with fresh produce, leftovers, and drinks can reduce the circulation of cold air, required to maintain the contents of it fresh. If there’s not enough cold air, your food can actually spoil way quicker without you even realizing.
Avoid cramming your fridge to the top and compartmentalize
your foods into different food groups and the places they would go inside the fridge. So much easier and organized. Maintain a stable temperature of your fridge as well.
Taking easy way out when cleaning
If you’re not one of those who find cleaning therapeutic, it is one of the most boring chores. You might try to take shortcuts when it’s your turn to wipe down tables, chair and kitchen counters or slabs. The kitchen or food prep surfaces, in particular, need to be cleaned frequently. Deciding to just skim a towel over the counter can prove harmful and become a reason for your upset stomach.
It is recommended to always wipe down the kitchen and food surfaces with hot soapy water or a disinfectant cleaning spray.
Avoid these bad habits to prevent a bout of food poisoning that can wreak havoc in your body.
