​This topic is not a popular one with most cooks but it is something that should always be in the back of our minds. That topic is food poisoning.
Food poisoning is one of the most common problems in a society that eats out a lot, but it can also be caused in a home kitchen if one does not adhere to certain cleaning techniques.
​Food poisoning is a food bourne disease if you can really call it a disease. it occurs when someone consumes a food or beverage that is contaminated by toxins. And yes beverages are just a suseptible as is food. The toxins are produced by certain bacteria that have grown in the food or beverage because of improper handling or cooking temperatures. Now for the most part food poisoning outbreaks most commonly occur in large-scale restaurants, cafeteria's or through catering companies.
​Food usually becomes contaminated by improper handling from both cooks and enviroment. Being in the food business for as many years as I have been I have seen lots of food being handle wrongly. I know that I am very reserved when going to a restaurant to eat from some of the experiences I have seen in even the best of kitchens.
​Food poisoning usually occurs from eating foods that were... A) not cooked thoroughly or stored a proper temperatures. B) prepared by someone who does not use proper food-handling and washing techniques. C) Prepared using cooking utensils, cutting boards, or other tools that were not properly cleaned.
​There is no set list of food poisoning symptoms but here are the most common ones. A) abdominal cramps B) nausea C) vomitting D) diarrhea E) weakness. Other symptoms also include fever, chills, and headaches. Food poisoning is often misdiagnosed as a slight case of the flu. Now the time for food poisoning to set in varies greatly depending on your system, it can hit as quickly as a few hours or could take up to a few days. Most tell you it takes food poisoning an average of 12 to 24 hours to show up but that is not true it depends on your own system. Most common ways of judging if you have food poisoning is if someone a friend has simular symptoms and you both ate at the same place or had the same food. Once again remember food poisoning will vary with each individual.
​The most common way to cure food poisoning is to make sure that the one suffering from it stays very hydrated. One of the most common side affects of food poisoning is dehydration due to vomitting, diarrhea. The last two mentioned items will dehydrate a person quickly. You want to have plenty of liquid in your system to not only flush out your system but to keep you from getting dehydrated. Some over the counter medications that say they can help cure food poisoning are not always as healthy as they say and may cause additional problems for the sufferer. If the food poisoning continues past 48 hours then you should consult your doctor. The average time that food poisoning is present in the body will vary from 12 to 48 hours. Once again it depends on the persons system, we are all different.
Most common ways to avoid causing food poisoning is to practise good food safety practises. Food safety involves 3 main areas. A) food storage B) food handling C) cooking. They are all intergrated together.
Food storage: It is important to maintain safe food temperatures when storing foods. Refrigerators should be kept at 40*F on average. Chilled foods should be kept cold to avoid bacteria growth.
​Food handling: Biggest key to food handling is this, good hand washing procedures using soap and water and scrubbing them well. do this before, during and after food preparation. You would not beleive the times I have seen cooks or even food servers move from one food item to another without cleaning thier hands correctly. Another big time issue that many never see in the big restaurants is when a cook uses a cutting board for raw meat and not wanting to stop and get a clean cutting board will just turn the board over and then cut fish or chicken. the juices are still there and that can cause cross contamination which entices bacteria to grow. Another thing that is common is if you start to prepare of cut something and you get side tracked and leave whatever you are working on to sit out for an extended amount of time. This is a common issue in home kitchens also. Best thing to do is if you are preparing a meal and you finish with one part to stop and wipe down the counter or whereever you are working and then start on the other aspects of your meal.
​Cooking: Thoroughly cook all food so as to avoid serving something that is not correctly cooked. The USDA has set minimums for food temperatures in all industrial kitchens including restaurant, cafeteria, catering kitchens. Those temps are as follows A) 145*F for Steaks, Roasts, and Fish B) 160*F for Pork, Ground Beef, and egg dishes C) 165*F for Chicken breasts and whole poultry. It is also important to wash all produce before serving or cooking and to throw away any foods past expiration dates. You can often tell if food is bad by how it feels and how it smells. Key way to think about it is this, if it doesnt look right or smell right then dont take a chance with it.
​Treatment for food poisoning is not really there, normally what you do is wait it out, but to lighten the symptoms is to keep your system hydrated. Most cases once again only last from 12 to 48 hours. Avoid solid foods and dairy products until the diarrhea and vomitting have passed. Keep the person hydrated through all of the symptoms as it will help to lessen or relieve the pain of the symptoms. Now remember if the symptoms are severe then seek medical help. Most times it will pass without needing medical attention.
​I hope that even though this subject is not a popular topic it will give you something to think about when your preparing your next meal at home or in a restaurant.
Happy Cooking