Every 7th of June is observed as ‘World Food Safety Day’ by the United Nations. The day aims to raise awareness about food standards and how to eat safe and healthy.
Diseases related to food affect 1 in 10 people globally every year. 16,00,000 fall ill due to unsafe food every day, and 340 children under the age of five die due to foodborne diseases in one day. There are almost 200 recognized foodborne diseases ranging from diarrhoea to cancer.
In India, 153,745 illnesses and 572 deaths were reported due to foodborne diseases in the period from 2009-2018. Bringing the average to 2.2 per 10,000,000 individuals.
Safe and Healthy food is key to long and good quality of life. Healthy food can help you live longer, increases muscular strength, boosts immunity, strengthens bones, lowers the risk of deadly diseases etc.
In this article, we will give you five habits to ensure healthy living:
1. Use Clean Utensils and Ingredients
Ingredients should be washed after buying from the market. Not only that, but we must ensure that all our utensils from knives to vessels are cleaned properly with soap. Vegetables and Fruits are often sprayed with pesticides, so it is better to clean them before consumption. The slightest contact with microorganisms can cause myriad food-borne illnesses.
2. Keep Raw and Cooked Food Separate
Putting Raw and Cooked Food nearby each other increases the risk of cross-contamination. Bacteria from raw food might pass on to hands and then to surfaces, clothes, utensils etc. For example, Blood and fluid from raw meat might drip onto cooked food below causing contamination. Therefore it is necessary to use different utensils for cooking and storing raw and cooked food.
3. Cook Properly
Cooking the food properly ensures that all microorganisms are killed in the process. If the temperature of the food falls below 70 degrees, it causes an increase in microorganisms. However, overcooking can also result in food losing nutritional value. So it is important to cook it properly. Steaming is the preferred method to help food retain all its nutritional value.
4. Keep Food at Safe Temperatures
The Refrigerator is a great and useful invention. So, it must be put to use. Storing food in the refrigerator helps it to remain fresh and avoid going stale. It keeps the raw ingredients safe to cook for an extended period of time. However, cooked food should also not stay in the refrigerator for long, and should be minimized as much as possible.
5. Wash Hands with Soap before cooking
Microorganisms are even present in your hands and you may transfer them to your food unknowingly. To prevent that, it is recommended to wash your hands thoroughly before you put your utensils to expert use.
As much as we try to avoid foodborne illnesses, sometimes it becomes impossible to follow all these habits and we unknowingly get affected by them. Patients needing financial assistance for treating foodborne diseases can start a fundraising page on Filaantro or Child Help Foundation. Through our Zero Hunger Programme, we have provided hygienic and nutritious food to 20,01,457 people. You too can join our mission and help us expand our pool.
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