After a long day at the office, you return home tired and hungry, and in no mood to cook dinner. Thankfully, with the number of restaurants that have opened up in every nook and corner there is no dearth of options. You can choose from different cuisines and different budgets to match both your pocket and taste. You can avail of home delivery or eat out in style. But do you ever think of food safety when you eat out?
Eating out can lead to vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach problems etc. This happens because of the presence of bacteria in the food. Bacteria can be present in the food itself or can occur because of bad handling, poor storage conditions or improper cooking techniques. These organisms are responsible for most food-related illnesses and can be present on meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy products and even in cooked veggies and cereals. To avoid these bacteria, it is best to give a thought to the handling practices and cooking styles of the eating joints. This is difficult but a few simple tips can help you.
Once you decide on where to eat check for the following:
- Are the floors, working area and the tables clean? Dirty areas can attract pests and carry bacteria and hence can lead to infestation.
- Are the staff and waiters presentable and clean? Dirty hands, long nails and lose hair can all be sources of disease causing organisms.
- If you can see the cooking area, notice, if the food is being handled with tongs or with bare hands. This will reveal a lot about the hygiene and cleanliness of the cooking area.
Whether you eat out or at home, the following points can help you to prevent food related illnesses.
- Always check whether hot foods are kept hot and cold foods are kept cold. A variation in temperature can result in the growth of bacteria.
- Cooked foods served to you are served hot. Eat them hot and don't let them cool down. Disease causing organisms do not thrive at high temperatures.
- Check whether the foods to be eaten cold, such as puddings are served cold and are stored in refrigerated compartments.
- If you are going in for non-vegetarian products or pre-made sandwiches, check if they are stored in refrigerated areas. If not, do not buy such products.
- If eating mutton or other non-vegetarian products, check that they are fully cooked. There should be no pink meat or juices running out. Improperly cooked mutton is the biggest source of bacteria.
