With Christmas and the celebrations of the New Year around the corner, now is a good time to consider holiday food safety. Many like to set up a nice picnic at the park or beach during this time and this can easily cause the common issue of ‘gastro’ – where the victim will have diarrhoea and vomiting. For most Australians, these mild symptoms occur once every five years but sometimes…it can be more serious.
How to uphold holiday food safety
Most people know that meat is the most common source of food poisoning. Bacteria like Salmonella and Camplyobacter grow easily in meat and should be stored separately from other foods that do not need cooking. Similarly, when you use utensils in preparing raw meat, it should not be used for any other food. Keep the meat cool in an esky or portable insulated container before you cook it. Cook the meat thoroughly to kill all the bacteria in the meat and served cooked meat on a clean plate.
Other types of food that may cause complications are uncooked eggs (so avoid sauces like mayonnaise), soft cheeses and fresh produce (wash them before you eat them!).
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