(Seoul=News1) Reporter Yeo Tae-kyung = The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety urged special caution regarding food poisoning on the 2nd due to the recent heatwave and humid weather continuing.
Due to flooding caused by heavy rain and the intense heat that began after the rainy season, the environment becomes more susceptible to food poisoning, making the management of ingredients, storage and handling of prepared foods, and sterilization and disinfection of food utensils and containers more important than ever.
During the day, heatwaves persist, and at night, tropical nights continue, allowing bacteria to multiply more rapidly, so cooked food should ideally be consumed within 2 hours.
Especially during the Olympics, it is best to consume late-night snacks delivered during the event immediately and avoid storing them at room temperature.
When storing food in the refrigerator, refrigerated items should be kept at 5°C or below, and frozen items at -18°C or below. Perishable foods that will be consumed soon should be placed near the refrigerator door where temperature fluctuations are greater, while foods that need to be stored for a long time should be sealed and stored in the innermost part of the freezer.
It is also advisable to keep the inside of the refrigerator clean at all times and to use less than 70% of the total capacity to maintain the proper temperature.
In households that use underground water, drinking water must be boiled before use, and containers and cooking utensils containing underground water should be sterilized through boiling or other heat treatments before use.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety urged people to strictly follow food poisoning prevention guidelines such as hand washing, cooking thoroughly, and disinfecting utensils, in accordance with weather forecasts predicting more heatwave days than usual this summer.
