Do not eat 'fish pancakes' during the holiday break... The reason for the warning [Health! Talk]

As the first 'September heatwave warning' in Seoul is issued and the late summer heat persists, special caution is advised to prevent food poisoning during the Chuseok holiday when food is often left at room temperature. The risk of food poisoning, which easily occurs in hot and humid summer conditions, remains lurking in various places even in September due to unprecedented heatwaves.

 

Due to increasingly severe heatwaves every year, the occurrence of food poisoning has risen even more, and there are recent concerns in the National Assembly that this year's Chuseok holiday could be the most dangerous period. According to the 'Food Poisoning Incidence Status' submitted by Rep. So Byeong-hoon of the Democratic Party to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the number of cases was 164 in 2020, 245 in 2021, 311 in 2022, and 359 in 2023, showing a 2.2-fold increase over four years.

 

According to an analysis of causes of food poisoning cases over the past four years, unidentified viruses accounted for the highest proportion at 33.3% (359 cases), followed by norovirus at 18.3% (197 cases), Salmonella at 13.4% (145 cases), pathogenic Escherichia coli at 11.9% (128 cases), and Campylobacter jejuni at 7.0% (75 cases).

 

Assemblyman So stated, "During the Chuseok holiday, there is a food poisoning emergency," and added, "In celebration of the Chuseok holiday, citizens should strictly adhere to prevention guidelines, and the Food and Drug Administration should strengthen preventive activities such as on-site inspections to actively prevent food poisoning incidents."

 

Concerns about medical gaps have grown, and there have been warnings that if one contracts food poisoning during the holiday period, they may not receive proper emergency treatment. Lee Joo-young, a reform party lawmaker and former doctor, stated on a broadcast on the 9th that "the infrastructure has already collapsed," and advised those around him, "Don't eat things like fish pancakes." He told Hankyung.com, "(Fish pancakes) left untreated for a long time can be dangerous."

 

According to Professor Jeong Ji-won of the Infectious Diseases Department at Seoul Asan Medical Center, food poisoning is a disease in which the digestive system becomes infected through food intake, leading to symptoms such as indigestion and diarrhea that can manifest acutely or chronically. Symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and rash.

 

Depending on the cause, food poisoning can be classified into bacterial food poisoning caused by bacteria, food poisoning caused by toxins produced by microorganisms in food, natural toxin food poisoning caused by toxins from animals and plants, and chemical food poisoning caused by chemical substances.

Bacteria that cause bacterial food poisoning include Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, Shigella, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The risk of such bacterial food poisoning increases during hot and rainy seasons.

 

Professor Jeong said, "The key to preventing food poisoning is properly managing the processes of selecting, preparing, and storing food. Bacteria mainly reproduce at temperatures between 0°C and 60°C. Storage should be below 4°C, and heating should be above 60°C," and added, "However, the toxins produced by Staphylococcus, Bacillus, and Clostridium can still proliferate even after heating. Therefore, it is best not to store food for a long time and to consume cooked food as soon as possible."

 

Professor Jeong also emphasized, "Thorough personal hygiene is important. Washing hands is essential after going out or using the restroom."

△Perishable or easily spoilable foods should be refrigerated within one hour after cooking.

Do not mix cooked food with uncooked food. Change the dishcloth daily and use it after boiling.

Discard leftover reheated food

△The cutting board was thoroughly cleaned and dried, emphasizing prevention guidelines.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety also provided guidelines for 'proper grocery shopping' to prevent food poisoning ahead of the holiday break. According to the Ministry, it is advisable to do grocery shopping for traditional foods within an hour as much as possible, and to prevent food poisoning, refrigerated and frozen foods, meats, and seafood should be transported using an ice box to keep them cool, and kept cold until just before cooking.

 

It is important to first purchase non-refrigerated foods such as flour and cooking oil, then buy agricultural products like fruits and vegetables, followed by processed foods that require refrigeration or freezing such as ham, fish cakes, and meatballs, in order to maintain freshness.

 

When purchasing prepared holiday foods online, it is advisable to choose products that are shipped while maintaining refrigeration or freezing temperatures, and they must be thoroughly reheated before consumption. Additionally, due to weather forecasts indicating that the heat will continue until the Chuseok holiday, it is best to consume holiday foods as quickly as possible, and to prevent food poisoning, they should be stored in the refrigerator rather than at room temperature.

 

Hong Min-sung, Hankyung.com Reporter mshong@hankyung.com

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On a joyful holiday, the whole family gathers together, sitting closely and enjoying delicious holiday food.

Because of the heatwave, I can't enjoy delicious food to the fullest.