In a very few days, the children will finish the school year as we are on the verge of welcoming summer. Namely, holidays are just around the corner and surely you are already planning some outings or trips during the summer months. But there is also a time when food poisoning is the order of the day. To avoid any situation that could put your family's health at risk, we will remember a series of precautions to take into account.
During the summer, food spoils more quickly due to the heat. High temperatures favor the proliferation of bacteria. These bacteria can cause stomach ailments, in addition to other types of conditions. When we are at home it is easier to control what we eat or if everything is perfectly sanitized. But when we go on a trip, this matter becomes quite complicated.
Therefore, from Madres Hoy we want to recommend a series of tips. So that summer vacation doesn't become a bad memory.
Food precautions in summer
- A lot of hygiene: Hygiene is essential to avoid catching certain viruses and bacteria. Therefore, it is very important wash your hands well every time you go to the bathroom. Remember especially to wash the hands of the little ones. Try to carry a disinfectant gel with you, in this way you can make sure that all of you keep your hands clean, even if you do not have a sink at hand.
- Clean food well: Especially when the food is fresh. You have to wash very deeply, vegetables and fruits since they are carriers of hundreds of bacteria. It is also important to wash food before cooking, since during handling we can contaminate it.
- Avoid raw foods: Also undercooked foods, raw meat and fish inhabit a lot of bacteria. If you are going to eat in restaurants, always ask that they are well cooked. Be careful with the all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants. Food can be too long out of the chambers that maintain its correct temperature. Choose carefully the places where you will eat during the summer and on vacation trips.
- Beware of the street stalls: In many countries the sale of food in street stalls is customary. We do not mean that all of them are outside the relevant sanitary controls. But it is possible that food is spent a long time in unfavorable conditions. Therefore, it is better to avoid them to prevent possible bacteria that affect the digestive system.
- Drink bottled water: It is possible to buy bottled water anywhere, practically any store has bottles of water for sale. Avoid any source of water that does not ensure you are drinkable, even those that have the guarantee for consumption can be dangerous. If an animal has drunk water from that source, it may have licked the elements through which the water comes out. You should also be careful if you drink sodas with ice. The water used to make the ice may not be entirely safe.
- Bottled and pasteurized products: Choose bottled drinks and soft drinks, if they are canned, try to drink it in a glass or with a straw, avoid taking it directly from the can. You should also be careful with dairy products and derivatives, always choose those that indicate they are pasteurized.
Other tips to keep in mind during the summer
With the hot temperatures of the summer months, it is important to stay well hydrated. Especially in people who are in the highest risk groups. These are the children and the elderly, who have less sensation of thirst and therefore greater risk of dehydration. Be sure to children to drink enough water and fluids, also if they are nursing babies.
Try not to expose food to high temperatures. If you are going to organize a picnic in the field for example, keep food in refrigerators where it can be kept well refrigerated. It uses blocks of frozen water, they can be found on large surfaces and they keep the cold for many hours. Avoid carrying products that can easily spoil.