How you handle food is crucial when it comes to health. Failure to pay attention to how you prepare and store food can lead to foodborne illness. These illnesses come with various unpleasant symptoms and can be life-threatening in some cases.
As a foodborne illness prevention mechanism, you have to maintain proper hygiene standards. Here is some of the information to know when handling food.
What causes foodborne illness?
Also known as food poisoning, foodborne illness is mainly caused by bacteria and viruses like Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella, and norovirus. These bacteria get into the body when you ingest contaminated food.
While these viruses can be present in any food you eat, it is not all the time when you will get ill. Some of the most at-risk groups include pregnant women, older adults, and people living with some underlying conditions.
The other causes of foodborne illness are parasites in the body and toxins produced by various living organisms like fungi or bacteria.
Symptoms of foodborne illness
Some of the common symptoms of the illness include stomach upset, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, severe exhaustion, exhaustion, and at times pus or blood on stools.
It is not common to experience all the symptoms at once. Instead, they might be severe or mild depending on the number of contaminants eaten and the type of causative organism.
The condition appears to people in various stages. Some people might never realize they are infected. However, for some, the symptoms might occur as soon as within hours after the infection. There are also cases when the toxins take time to multiply before the symptoms start manifesting. This process can take up to weeks.
The symptoms tend to last for only two days. Yet, some can persist for up to ten days.
Hygiene tips to prevent foodborne illness
Realizing that your food can be causing you illness can be shocking. However, it’s not the time to go into self-imposed fasting. You only need proper hygiene to avoid contaminants on your food. Some of the tips to use are;
Cleanliness in the kitchen
A clean kitchen is the first step towards avoiding contamination. Wash your hands before you handle any food items. Also, wash vegetables before cutting to remove contaminations on the surface. Prepare food on clean surfaces and wash utensils after use. Do not wash meat and poultry.
Cooking right
Uncooked or undercooked can cause foodborne illness as the parasites remain alive. Prevent foodborne illness by cooking at the right temperature. Use a thermometer to confirm the cooking temperature. If you lack a temperature, then ensure poultry or meat, the juices run clear, not pink.
Re-heat the pre-prepared meals to the right temperature before eating.
Reporting
Even after ensuring proper hygiene, you can still experience food poisoning. Call a healthcare professional immediately.
It is not every time that you will experience food poisoning from your home. There is also the risk when you eat from restaurants. Inform the local health department as soon as you experience the symptoms.
