It is extremely important to be particular about food safety and more so when you are pregnant. Needless to say, it is imperative to avoid the consumption of any food that might be contaminated and could lead to food poisoning. Food poisoning could be a serious condition which could lead to headaches, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. Certain kinds of infections including listeriosis can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women.
How to ensure food safety during pregnancy?
Here are some tips that will come in handy when ensuring food safety during pregnancy.
- Always wash your hands well before eating food since our hands can harbor a variety of bacteria and pathogens.
- It is important to dry your hands well after washing as damp surfaces only end up becoming bacteria collection points.
- If there are any cuts or wounds in your hands, cover them using waterproof bandages to avoid contact with food.
- Take care that your food is stored at the right temperature. Experts recommend storing food at below 5 degrees Celsius.
- Eat fresh food as often as possible. If you must eat leftover food, however, do not let it stay out for long. Heat it thoroughly before eating it.
- Never eat any foods that are past their expiry date even though they might smell and taste completely fine. Doing so puts you at a risk of food poisoning.
- As a general rule, store raw foods at the bottom of the refrigerator and cooked foods at the top.
- If you use a microwave oven to cook food, test the middle portion of the food to know if it is properly heated before you eat it.
Change kitchen towels and scrubbers often to avoid them from harboring bacteria.
