After sweltering summers heat rainy season has always been considered as a blessing. It gives relief from heat, but disappointing fact of this season is also accompanied by various diseases and infections. So, maintaining a good food and personal hygiene is very important to protect ourselves in this infectious rainy season. The Rainy Season brings a lot of moisture and dampness, which are not good for food and perishable items. The rainy season is a host of many diseases and infections. Unhygienic, polluted and dirty surroundings pave way for the growth of viral, bacterial and fungal infections that affects skin, respiratory and digestive system. Food and food items are highly affected by this, that leads to food borne illness in people.

 

 

What is Food Borne Illness: -
Food borne illness generally refer to illness caused by microorganism consumed by eating any type of food. When people complain of food poisoning, they may actually have been exposed to the microorganism that cause food borne illness. Microbes, bacteria and pentagons are other terms used to describe the microorganism. Generally, the bacteria can spread easily and rapidly requiring the food, moisture and favorable temperature and time to multiply. Their effect can range from relatively minor discomfort to more serious symptoms and manifestation such as fever, diarrhea, dehydration and even death. Food Borne illness majority impacts pregnant women, children and old age people. So, by maintaining the good food hygiene habit, food borne illness can be prevented.

 

Food Hygiene Practice: -

Fruits & Vegetables: - Fruits and vegetables should be properly clean with water before cooking because they have so many bacteria like listeria and salmonella. Cut fruits and vegetables should not be kept in open area during rainy season. They should be consumed as soon as they are cut, to avoid contamination with mold and fungus. All fruits juices, vegetable and salad also should be consumed immediately when they are fresh. After washing, all fruits and vegetables, should be dried properly and store in refrigerator.

Milk and Milk Product: - Milk is very important part of our daily route life. So, milk hygiene is very important. Proper milk hygiene involves correct handling and storage. Milk and Milk product should be store in appropriate temperature to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. It should also be handled with clean and sanitize equipment to avoid cross contamination.

Meat, poultry and Eggs Hygiene: - Meat and Meat products are high in protein and moisture which are needed for the multiplications of pentagons. Wash your hands properly when preparing any type of meat, fish and poultry. Use clean utensil like knife, cooking pan, cutting boards. To Keep uncooked meat for longer time, seal the meat in airtight packaging and keep it in freezer. Don’t buy meat and meat product and seafood that are discolored, has strong odor or feels tough and slimy. Packaged meat item should be checked for any leakage or odor. Eggs shell should not be cracked.

Water: - Water borne diseases are caused by microorganisms that contaminates water. Common diseases that occur due to this contamination are Cholera, dysentery, giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis. Drinking contaminated water makes people sick as it contains bacteria, viruses and parasites. One of the primary steps in preventing waterborne infections is consumption of safe drinking water. Boiling water before consumption is a simple yet effective method to kill harmful microorganisms. Using water purifiers and filtered can also purifies water and removed its impurities.

 

Maintenance of raw material: - Food items like pulses, legumes, spices, dry fruits & nuts, and different type of flour should be stored in a dry area. It is good to avoid buy large quantity in this season because in rainy season, it is easy to catch moisture that leads to smell and bugs, damaging the food items.

 

Hygiene for outside food: - Precut fruits and vegetable, fried food, salad, junk food and other street food should be avoided in rainy season. Most type of street food are generally prepared in open area where lack of food hygiene among many streets food vendor leads to food borne illnesss. All bakery product is suspectable to spoilage by fungus and mold. Hence, eat them as soon as they are taken out from their airtight packets. Consumption of these contaminated food items leads to dysentery and diarrhea in humans.

 

Along with maintaining food hygiene, it is also very important to follow other hygiene practices.

 

Kitchen Hygiene: - Food hygiene is very important and it start from kitchen. Always keep your kitchen clean, as it is as important as cooking in cleaned utensil and equipment. All kitchen area, equipment and utensils are clean and disinfected before or after preparing food. Further, clean your kitchen with hot water and disinfections.

Kitchen equipment hygiene: - Refrigerator, microwave, mixer, juicer, chopping board, knife and other equipment are the daily use product of every kitchen. They should be clean, daily or weekly basis. Refrigerator is used very often for storage of leftover food, raw and cooked item like meat, vegetable, egg, milk & milk product. However, an unclean refrigerator might become a breeding place for fungus or harmful germs. It is easier for mold to grow on cooked food as they survive on the moisture in the environment. It is important to eat freshy cooked food during rainy season and store the left-over food in the refrigerator as soon as possible. Always cover left over food to avoid contamination and bacterial growth.

Personal Hygiene: - Personal hygiene is a must for our overall benefit and health. Good habit of personal hygiene can prevent food poisoning. Wash hand with soap, and clean portable water before and after handling food. Beside washing hand, one must also tie hair and cut nails before cooking. Nail should be kept short and clean. Wear clean and preferably cotton cloth, apron while cooking. Do not use gadget like phone or remote-control during cooking. 

 

Conclusion: - Every time washing hands before and after preparing and eating food is a good habit. Water used for cooking and washing should be clean. Fruits and vegetables should be washed before use. Prepare food is less quantity and keep leftovers in refrigerator to avoid it getting contaminated. Avoid consuming raw and deep-fried food items from outside. By following all these hygiene habits, many infections can be avoided.

 

References:

https://www.paho.org/en/health-emergencies/who-golden-rules-safe-food-preparation

https://fssai.gov.in/upload/knowledge_hub/1026695b27a24b25f3bFSMS_Booklet_English_31_10_2017.pdf