Recently, we have witnessed an increase in cases of food poisoning and various gastrointestinal issues, which are particularly acute in children. This situation is a result of consuming meat contaminated with bacteria, which has become more widespread due to deteriorating conditions. How could it not? The electricity supply is nearly cut off, negatively impacting food quality. Not to mention the contaminated water and viruses spreading in the air. After the emergence of symptoms in several individuals in the past few days, including fever, nausea, and abdominal pain, medical tests revealed associations with salmonella due to the consumption of undercooked meat and poultry, or food that has not been stored under sanitary conditions. It is notable that some cases were related to home-cooked meals, not just those eaten at restaurants!
Professor and food science researcher Dr. Hussein Hasan points out in an interview with MTV that "power outages or insufficient electricity supply lead to the growth of bacteria inside meat and poultry. If they are not cooked properly or mixed with other types of meat, these bacteria proliferate faster and cause negative health effects." He clarifies: "According to global recommendations, the power supply to the refrigerator should not be cut for more than 4 hours. This causes the refrigerator temperature to reach a danger zone above 5 degrees Celsius, while storage temperatures should range between 1 and 5 degrees, especially in summer. Any use of the refrigerator during a power outage introduces warm air, contributing to the proliferation of germs in stored foods."
Dr. Hasan advises to "be cautious about the types of food we consume during this period," recommending canned and dry foods such as bulgur instead of cheese, powdered milk instead of liquid milk, and focusing on pantry items that do not require specific temperatures or electricity for storage, like pickled vegetables, preserves, and jams. It is also healthy to consume plant-based foods such as Mujadara and stews, as the risk of food poisoning is reduced with them.
The issue is not limited to food storage; Dr. Hasan emphasizes the "importance of ensuring that frozen foods are cooked very well." He also outlines some important recommendations to avoid food poisoning, stating: "You should ensure that the refrigerator door is tightly closed to prevent cold air from leaking out, which negatively affects the temperature at which foods are stored. We recommend placing water bottles in the fridge and transferring them to the refrigerator immediately after a power outage, as this trick helps maintain the refrigerator's temperature."
