Eating is a human need that implies the action of ingesting food into our body that provides us with the necessary nutrients to carry out daily activities.

In this human need, we rarely consider whether what we are eating is safe and safe food.

A safe food is one that guarantees that Ingesting it will not cause any harm to the consumer in accordance with hygienic-sanitary requirements.

If you do not eat safe food, diseases called “foodborne diseases” may occur and are caused by microorganisms and/or toxic chemicals.

Most of these diseases can be prevented with proper food handling, so today we are going to give you 5 keys to eating safely:

Cleaning hands, food and utensils

Dangerous microorganisms that cause foodborne illnesses are found in soil, water, animals, and people. These are carried around by hands, utensils, clothing, cleaning rags, sponges, and any other items that have been properly washed.

Separate raw and cooked foods

Raw foods, especially meat, fish and their sauces, can be contaminated with dangerous microorganisms that can be transferred to other foods such as cooked or ready-to-eat foods., during food preparation or while preserving it. Therefore, it is advisable to always keep them separated.

Cook food completely

Proper cooking kills almost all dangerous microorganisms. It is advisable to cook the food in such a way that all parts reach 70°C, which guarantees the safety of these foods for consumption..

There are foods, such as large pieces of meat, whole chickens or ground beef, that require special cooking control.

If you have already cooked foods that have been stored in the refrigerator, properly reheating them kills microorganisms that may have developed during storage.

Keep food at safe temperatures

Some microorganisms can multiply very quickly if food has been kept at room temperature.

If the food has been kept below 5°C or above 60°C, microbial growth slows down or stops. Some pathogenic microorganisms can still grow at temperatures below 5°C, although this is less normal.

Use safe water and raw materials

Raw materials, including water, can contain not only microorganisms but also harmful chemicals. It is necessary to be careful in the selection of raw products and take action
prevention. Washing and/or peeling them reduces the danger.

Source: WHO (World Health Organization)