Is Your Food Safe Enough?

Often, many of us ignore the dangers of food eaten. However, every year, many people suffer from diseases because of the food they eat. In countries that have high hygiene standards, each year an average of 10 to 15 percent of the population contracted the disease carried by the food they eat.

Some of the things that make unsafe food eaten that is:

• Contaminated

  Dozens of bacteria, viruses, parasites, protozoa and threatening to poison food.Food can be contaminated with harmful bacteria. Such as food stored in jars or containers that are not sealed. Or raw vegetables such as fresh vegetables are not washed first. Other causes, the meat is left at room temperature for some time though it was cooked attracts bacteria.

• Processing is not clean

  If the food processing done quickly, most likely less attention to hygiene factors. It could be the container for cutting raw meat and cooked meat done on the same cutting board.

• Eating out

  Although eating out interesting, but should remain cautious. Some restaurants do not maintain the cleanliness of the kitchen so it became a nest of germs. Or a few restaurants serve food on the table for a long time without refrigeration or storage containers tightly. Or often happens, the remaining food was served yesterday returned the next day.

• Chemicals or drugs

  Some chemicals or drugs given to livestock or plants. For example some of the animals were given antibiotics in order to be immune to the disease, or hormones that cattle grow faster. Bacteria in cattle is becoming more resistant, so that when consumed by humans, the germs that cause disease in humans over time will be immune to antibiotics. 
  
  Likewise, the pesticides on crops. Food can be contaminated by the remnants of pesticides or substances that are harmful or toxic.

Making Food Safe

Food-related illnesses caused by bacteria. Usually, the bacteria can be inhibited growth. To make food safer, then the food must be processed under conditions that do not allow the growth of bacteria in food or spread of pollutants in the kitchen. Here are some practical suggestions that you can do to avoid illness or danger of food is often the case.

• Wash hands

  This is the most practical method, ie wash hands before eating. Always wash hands with soap or cleaning with anti-septic every time you will eat or touch food.

• Wash and clean cooking utensils

  Always wash all cooking utensils such as cutting boards, knives, kitchen table, grated with soap and also with hot water after preparing each dish. It is more important if, after the processing of beef, chicken, or seafood is still raw with the equipment.

• Wash fruits and vegetables

  Although fruits and vegetables can be eaten directly, but always wash fruits and vegetables with warm water to rid it of insects and pesticide residues. If the vegetables and fruits that do not need to be peeled or eaten raw without cooking, brush the food ingredients with a vegetable brush to remove dirt and pesticide residues are attached. Leafy vegetables, like spinach, kale, and salad, washed and certainly should not contain sand and soil. Even the best move is to peel, peel, and boil so that the cleaning of foodstuffs. For example when processing lettuce and cabbage, discard the outermost leaves.

• Cook meat until done

  Cook all meat until cooked properly. This includes fish and chicken meat with the intent to kill harmful organisms. Beef and frozen chicken from the refrigerator should be thawed completely before cooking, so heat can penetrate through the middle. 
  
  The meat can be found tapeworm, including in fish and shellfish. Tapeworms usually affect the liver or lungs. Heat the inside of the meat to more than 70-80 degrees Celsius, albeit briefly, almost all bacteria, viruses, and parasites will die. If you want to reheat food should be done to a temperature 75 degrees Celsius or until the food becomes hot and steaming. 
  
  For example, avoid eating chicken meat inside is still pink or eggs do not mature properly. Because of the high-risk still contain harmful organisms such as bacteria, viruses and parasites.

• Separate food

  Separate location of food when you carry or store. Separate the meat and seafood from other food ingredients. For example separate plastic bag between the meat of your shopping with other food ingredients, especially when storing in the refrigerator. 
  
  Avoid putting cooked food on a plate that previously used to place the raw meat, unless the plate has been washed thoroughly with soap or hot water.

• Eat immediately

  Once the food is finished cooking, eating immediately, especially in hot regions because harmful bacteria can multiply rapidly. Tips to prepare the food long before the meal is to cool the food in the refrigerator after cooking and warm back well before serving.

• Keep your kitchen clean

  Kitchen hygiene should always be maintained. Consider cooking tools and cooking area. For example avoid using the footwear outside the home in the kitchen area and allow pets in the kitchen area.

• Save and freeze in the refrigerator properly

  Refrigerator can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, with the temperature 4 degrees Celsius. While in the freezer (frozen) should be minus 17 degrees Celsius temperature. Immediately store perishable foods in the refrigerator no later than two hours after purchase.

• Discard damaged or questionable food

  Perhaps you remember the last time the eggs in the refrigerator purchased. If you are not sure whether the food is damaged or not, throw the food of dubious than the disease.

• Be careful when eating outdoors

  When dining outdoors, you should always be careful. Approximately up to 80 percent of cases of diseases carried by food comes for buying or consuming food that is cooked and purchased outside the home. 
  
  Make sure you visit the restaurant is quite clean. If you order a steak or meat, order meat cooked until done correctly. 
  
  And if you plan to wrap food to take home, make sure that food is eaten no later than two hours after you buy it. If more than two hours, reheat food to 75 degrees Celsius or until hot and steaming.

It's definitely eating a preferred food delicious. Remember, it is not possible to make sure every time that the food eaten was safe from all dangers. But if you pay attention to the suggestions above, namely the food is prepared properly and safely, you can better enjoy your favorite dish of delicious food.