Take care your food is clean

By KATHERINE HOBY

Eating can be a risky business. Auckland District Health Board figures show up to 119,000 cases of food poisoning occur each year.

The board's medical officer for health, Dr Greg Simmons, says food poisoning is caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria, viruses or parasites.

In severe cases, it can require hospital treatment and may even result in death.

Connected to the estimated 119,000 cases of food poisoning are about 19,000 doctor's visits, 400 hospital admissions and 22 cases of long-term illness.

Dr Simmons says 20 to 40 per cent of food poisoning occurs through poor food-handling practices in the home.

Leaving a cooked chicken and salad in the car for the afternoon, and then unwrapping it and exposing it on the beach or at the riverbank for several hours, is a recipe for disaster, he says.

Bacteria will grow in warm, moist places, and in 40C to 60C numbers double every 20 minutes.

"Most germs that cause problems in the home are on raw foods, dirty hands, insects or pets."

The four simple 'C' rules of food safety are:

* Clean: keep hands and kitchen utensils clean.

* Cook: Ensure food is thoroughly cooked or kept hot.

* Cover: Ensure food is covered to prevent contamination from raw foods, insects, and pets.

* Chill: keep perishable foods cold.

Further reading
nzherald.co.nz/health