Everyone wants to ensure a healthy lifestyle for their family. Food safety is an important aspect of healthy living that assists in improving health conditions. It ensures that food you consume is free from harmful microorganisms and contamination. However, it isn’t a good practice to believe all suggestions out there. There are various prevalent misconceptions that you should be aware of.
Some myths are not only false, they may also inflict severe harm to your health. Therefore, it’s important that you know these myths to avoid falling in their trap. The CDC is a great resource to view steps to food safety and keep up to date on any threats.
Myth#1: The 5 Seconds Rule
It is commonly believed that if food falls down on floor, it is still clean if you pick it up in 5 seconds or less. However, food gets affected by germs as soon as it comes in contact with floor. Germs and bacteria present in our surroundings don’t wait for 5 seconds to affect food. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid its consumption no matter how quickly you pick it up from the surface.
Myth#2: Freezing Food Kills Bacteria
It is another prevalent myth that you freeze food to kill off bacteria. However, frozen food isn’t free from harmful bacteria. Instead, freezing process just makes bacteria inactive and prohibits them from affecting the quality of food. They may not affect food but they grow more rapidly at low temperatures. As soon as you take frozen food out of the refrigerator, it is more prone to getting infected.
Myth#3: You Don’t Need to Wash Fruits before Peeling Them
If you’re already going to peel fruits or vegetables, why waste time in washing them, right? Many people follow this practice, but it is extremely harmful for health. Soil and water where fruits and vegetables grow often contain a variety of bacteria and parasites. In order to ensure that you stay safe from these microorganisms, make sure you thoroughly wash them with clean water before peeling, cutting or eating them. Moreover, avoid using any detergents on fruits or vegetables.
Myth#4: It’s Okay to Eat Meat if It Doesn’t Look or Smell Bad
Many people believe that they can determine whether food is fine to eat just by looking at it. However, food can still be affected by bacteria even if its color and smell are okay. If it smells bad or you notice mold or fungus on its surface, it is recommended to throw it away immediately. However, you can’t detect the growth of bacteria with naked eye. Therefore, you should know for how long you can refrigerate food items.
Myth#5: Rinsing Meat Cleans Off Bacteria
A majority of people wash meat or other food products before using them in an attempt to rinse off bacteria. However, not all bacteria can be removed by simply washing them with water. In fact, washing meat often increases their growth. Instead, cook meat and food items to kill off bacteria. Make sure you cook them above their boiling point. Use a thermometer to ensure it is properly cooked. Chicken, beef, pork, and turkey are a threat for food poisoning when served raw or undercooked.
With Ace Food Handler, you can learn to handle food in a safe manner. Contact them today for food handling certification.