14 Jun Food Prep: Are You Doing It Right?
A 2019 World Bank report noted that the annual cost of treating foodborne illnesses is around $15 billion.
People might have underestimated the importance of proper food preparation. The World Health Organization noted that contaminated food causes foodborne illnesses carrying bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
The WHO noted that around 600 million people globally fall ill after consuming contaminated food. Out of these, 420,000 are dying per year. Children under the age of 5 account for 125,000 deaths every year due to foodborne illnesses.
The health organization imposed what it called the “Golden Rules” when it comes to food preparation. These are:
- Choosing foods processed for safety
- Thorough cooking of food
- Eating cooked foods immediately
- Use of safe water
- Washing hands repeatedly
- Separation of raw and cooked foods
- Storing foods in closed containers
- Keeping the kitchen clean
- Storing and reheating cooked foods properly
There have been miscalculations on the burden of foodborne disease due to underreporting and difficulty linking the relations between deaths the diseases.
Some of the foodborne illnesses include:
- Salmonella: its symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. This type of bacteria is usually found in poultry, eggs, and other animal products.
- Listeria: this type of bacteria is found in unpasteurized dairy products and other ready-to-eat foods. It can cause deaths and severe cases among infants and can cause miscarriage in pregnant women.
- Norovirus: it is characterized by nausea, explosive vomiting, watery diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
- Parasites: parasites are usually found in fish and can be transmitted to humans by eating raw fish.
Aside from reducing the risk of getting foodborne illnesses, a study published in 2014 also indicated that proper food preparation might be an important factor in creating healthier dietary habits among adults.
Take proactive steps when it comes to taking care of your health. Follow https://icare.com.ph/ for more health tips.
SOURCE: Food safety (who.int)
Time Spent on Home Food Preparation and Indicators of Healthy Eating – PMC (nih.gov)
WHO “Golden Rules” for Safe Food Preparation – PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization