Food poisoning often peaks from June through early fall and can contribute to other health issues by hindering proper hydration and nutrition. As the weather gets warmer, many pack food for outings and picnics. However, the rising temperatures can cause food to spoil quickly, making it wise to use insulated bags or coolers to keep it fresh. Interestingly, certain food poisoning bacteria can survive even after the food has been cooked. Let’s explore some preventative measures to protect against food poisoning.
Gimbap Poses the Highest Risk of Food Poisoning
Gimbap, a popular food to pack for outings, carries a high risk of food poisoning. Contamination from just one can lead to food poisoning as it contains various ingredients. A prime example is the egg used in the gimbap, which can be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria from chicken feces. Ensuring the center is thoroughly cooked when cooking the egg is best. If you touch the eggshell, it’s recommended to wash your hands before continuing with the cooking process.
Properly Clean Cooking Tools
Cooking tools like knives and cutting boards should be washed under running water before use. If the ingredients are hot, food poisoning bacteria can spread more quickly, so it’s advisable to cool them down properly. Suppose someone has symptoms of enteritis, such as diarrhea or stomach pain. In that case, they might be carrying food poisoning bacteria, so they should not prepare food directly to prevent any potential infection.
Consume Within 2 Hours After Cooking
Prepared food should be consumed within 2 hours. If it must be stored for a long time, it should be kept in an excellent place to minimize the risk of food poisoning. For instance, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, storing gimbap in a car trunk for just 2 hours can lead to the proliferation of Staphylococcus aureus up to 10,000 bacteria. This shows how quickly bacteria can multiply, so it’s best to consume food as soon as possible.
Bacteria That Revive Even After Food Is Boiled
The ‘Clostridium perfringens’ bacteria can cause food poisoning, even after boiled food. They go into a dormant state at relatively low temperatures in the morning and wake up like zombies in the warm afternoon. Particularly, perfringens bacteria dislike oxygen and increase in environments rich in amino acids. If you cook and leave galbijjim (braised short ribs), and the temperature falls below 140°F (60°C), the bacteria that survived the heating process inside the oxygen-free pot will multiply and cause food poisoning. Therefore, storing food in several containers and keeping it below 41°F (5°C) is advisable. Stored food should be reheated above 167°F (75°C) before consumption.
What Are the Symptoms of Food Poisoning?
Food poisoning affects the digestive system and can cause symptoms throughout the entire body. Vomiting and diarrhea are common. When toxins or bacteria enter the body with food, our bodies react by expelling them through vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. If the bacteria attach to or penetrate the intestinal wall, digestive system symptoms may accompany a fever. In severe cases, it can cause nerve paralysis, muscle cramps, and consciousness disorders.
Differentiating Simple Stomach Pain from Food Poisoning
When distinguishing between simple stomach pain and food poisoning, it’s not just the nature of the pain that matters, but whether problematic food was consumed or if vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea co-occurred. General symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome may improve after a bowel movement, but pain and diarrhea from food poisoning persist and may be accompanied by fever.
What If Diarrhea Is Severe?
If the food-poisoning bacteria have already entered the body, the damaged intestinal lining may impair digestion and absorption. If you eat food in this state, diarrhea can worsen, so the priority should be to correct electrolyte imbalances by supplying fluids. Glucose water or ionized drinks are absorbed faster than plain water. Drinking boiled water with sugar or salt added can also help.
Would Taking Antidiarrheal Medication Help?
Diarrhea flushes out toxins from the intestines, and vomiting expels toxins from the stomach. If you take medicine arbitrarily, the expulsion of toxins and bacteria may be delayed, recovery may be delayed, and the course may worsen. If you’re a patient with inflammatory diarrhea, antibiotics may be needed. If symptoms such as stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting occur, you should supply fluids appropriately and consult a specialist for appropriate treatment.
Precautions and Prevention Measures for Treating Food Poisoning
You shouldn’t necessarily fast just because you have diarrhea. Inadequate nutrient intake can actually worsen diarrhea. It’s best to useIt’sidiarrheal or antiemetic medications as a healthcare provider prescribes. Iprovider’sfe, purchase fresh ingredients as needed, store cooked and uncooked food separately at safe temperatures, thoroughly wash raw seafood to prevent contamination, and refrigerate it immediately.
People Who Need to Be Particularly Careful About Food Poisoning
If you have normal immunity, you can naturally recover from food poisoning. However, if children or the elderly get food poisoning, visiting a hospital is best. Older people often cannot eat appropriately after food poisoning, which can lead to muscle loss. This can lead to a cycle of poor digestion and stomach pain and can cause other diseases, so you should be careful.
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