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  |  General Health  |  First Aid & Minor Ailments  |  Avoiding food poisoning
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Avoiding food poisoning

by Dr. Sarah Brewer
continued from page 1
Prevention
Keep food properly refrigerated wherever possible. A rise in temperature from just four to eight degrees centigrade can more than double bacterial growth rates. In hot weather, keep packed lunches fridge-fresh in a sandwich box with its own integral ice pack which, when pre-frozen, keeps food chilled for up to six hours.

Take a probiotic supplement containing healthy digestive bacteria such as lactobacilli before, during, and after travelling abroad. This will help to boost intestinal immunity and improve digestion, at a time when your diet is likely to change significantly.

Simple tips for avoiding food poisoning - both at home and abroad - this summer include:

  • Wash hands thoroughly before preparing foods, and again before eating
  • Keep your kitchen clean and dry
  • Keep pets out of the kitchen at all times
  • Keep separate chopping boards for cooked meat, raw meat, and for other produce such as vegetables
  • Make sure your fridge is keeping food properly chilled, with fridge temperatures below 5 degrees C and freezer temperature below -18 degrees C.
  • Clean your fridge regularly and throw away all foods past their use-by date
  • Store raw meat at the bottom of the fridge, covered, and separate from cooked foods
  • Defrost frozen produce thoroughly before cooking
  • Make sure all hot food is cooked thoroughly and served piping hot rather than merely warm
  • Avoid eating raw eggs and products made from them
  • Do not eat any products past their use-by date

    Tips to help prevent traveller's diarrhoea
    If you're travelling abroad, you are especially susceptible to food poisoning, as hygiene may be less strict. Plus you have little natural resistance against foreign bacteria and viruses to which you have not been previously exposed.

  • For drinking, brushing your teeth, preparing food or cooking, use:
    - water from sealed bottles; carbonated is safer than still water as it's less likely to have been filled from the tap
    - freshly boiled and cooled water
    - water sterilised with purification tablets
  • Avoid green salads and uncooked vegetables
  • Only eat fruits that can be peeled
  • Avoid ice cubes unless made from safe water
  • Avoid ice creams from unreliable sources
  • Avoid unpasteurised milk - boil if unsure
  • Wash hands thoroughly before eating
  • Avoid food exposed to the sun or to flies
  • Avoid snacks bought from roadside vendors
  • Sea, river, swimming pool and even shower water may be contaminated. Keep your head out of the water and try not to swallow any. If water looks obviously murky, don't swim in it.



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    Created: 10/07/2003  Updated: 31/01/2007

    This iVillage Health service area is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for personal medical attention, diagnosis or hands-on treatment. If you are concerned about your health or that of a child, please consult your family's health provider immediately and do not wait for a response from our professionals. For the full Disclaimer, click here.
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