Food poisoning on the rise in summer, warns doctors

Each day we see over three cases of food poisoning, mainly of youngsters who drink juices at roadside stalls to quench their thirst. The public should be careful of what they consume and where, as bacteria tends to spread faster in high heat,” said a doctor at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH). 

Stressing on the importance of hygiene, nutritionists say that if a high-level hygiene is maintained both in keeping food items as well as in cooking them, problems like food poisoning can be avoided. “Keeping your kitchen clean while cooking is always essential to avoid germs,” said Hygiene Manager Aditi S.

“If the fridge is not kept clean, food items kept in it will spread disease-carrying bacteria to the vegetables and fruits stored along with them, making them toxic. It is always advisable to clean the fridge once in every week, besides storing vegetables and fruits away from meat items,” she added.

As many office goers tend to carry lunch with them, the risk of the food going stale is high during summer. “Many women tend to cook the food the previous night due to lack of time in the mornings. They reheat the food, which has a very high chance of getting spoilt. Also, juices must be consumed fresh. Keeping them for hours before consuming is likely to cause stomach upset,” said well known dietician Dr Dharini Krishnan.