SAre we sure we are taking all the necessary precautions in the kitchen? Both on how to store certain foods in the refrigerator and on how clean we keep the environment? The questions arose spontaneously at the ISS, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, which launched the questionnaire in recent months Eatsafe!. An opportunity for take stock of food safety and the eating and hygiene habits of Italians. And also an opportunity to establish the 10 rules which absolutely must be followed.
Food safety, how important it is
You can never be too careful in the kitchen. Without being alarmist, as the ISS also explains, in the kitchen there may be chemical substances, poorly preserved foods, bacteria circulating on sponges and which can create an unhealthy environment with possible damage to health. One fact above all: WHO stated that around 600 million people get sick every year, worldwide, from unsafe food. Because poorly preserved or poorly cooked. A fact that therefore places in food safety also comes to the fore in the domestic environment. For this, based on the result of the survey Eatsafe!the Istituto Superiore di Sanità has drawn up a real decalogue. For a kitchen that is always tidy and clean.
The ten ISS food safety rules
1. Be careful with pots and pans
Maybe not everyone knows this but the pans should be changed every time the coating begins to deteriorate or to be scratched. Otherwise they are release harmful substances into food which is cooked and which, in the long run, causes damage to health.
2. The hygiene of sponges
Sponges, scouring pads, abrasive or not. It doesn’t matter, they all need to be kept clean. That is, they should not be left sitting dirty on the sink and not rinsed. Better yet, once a week, all sponges should be disinfected or left to soak in boiling water for at least five minutes and then changed once a month. The reason? Lower the bacterial load they carry with them.
3. Never forget the cutting boards too
Usually they are used, then given a wipe with a sponge to clean them, they dry and hang up again. Just one precaution: when handling raw foods, especially if it involves raw fish or meat, either take a specific cutting board or, once finished, wash it very well before cutting fruit and vegetables. So as not to contaminate the food.
4. Avoid burning food
Many people like the “burns” that can form on the edges of some foods. In reality this is a habit that should be lost. First of all because it is bad for your health. In fact, burnt food can lead to the formation of acrylamide, a carcinogenic substance. A tip that This applies to all foods, especially those rich in starch, such as bread and potatoesthe chances of the formation of this substance are significantly increased.
5. The order in the refrigerator
The refrigerator should be a tidy placenot where food piles up randomly. For example, eggs should be left in their original container and placed on the middle shelf where the temperature is constant. Furthermore, Raw and cooked foods must be separatedif the latter are then stored in hermetically sealed containers, it is better to last longer. But the cooked food should also be kept separate from health foods and cheeses which, at least in theory, should have a shelf of their own.
6. Defrost carefully
That is, once out of the freezer the food should be placed in the refrigerator where it will defrost slowlywhich is why it must be brought out in time. This step is essential to avoid the proliferation of bacteria. Once thawed, food must be cooked within 24 hours and cannot under any circumstances be refrozen.
7. Never wash raw can
Chicken is one of those foods that can create a little more difficulty. First of all it must always be perfectly preserved, and never eaten after the expiry date. Equally important is that it must never be washed. The risk is that it spreads many bacteria throughout the environment, on surfaces and especially in the sink.
8. Consume the fish immediately
Unless you want to freeze it, the fish should be eaten immediately when it is fresh. The risk is in fact the formation of toxic substances, in particular histamine which can cause harm. Therefore, once purchased, it must be immediately placed in the refrigerator, so as not to interrupt the cold chain, or in the freezer if you want to consume it after a few days and, if left over, it must be eaten quickly, even canned or in oil.
9. Pay attention to labels
Even if these are ready-made and even already cooked foods, it is It is essential to carefully follow the instructions on the packaging, also because not all ready-made foods can be eaten directly.
10. Vary your diet
It may seem obvious, but repeating it helps. A healthy diet includes a variety of foods and frequencies and includes carbohydrates, proteins, legumes, cereals and vegetables.