When it comes to eating out in summer months, it is very important to take extra care of what you what and from where you eat. Hygiene, quality ingredients, environment of cooking and eating space, all of these are crucial, as they impact the health immediately. One small mistake and your health can go for a toss, just like what happened in Bhabua, Bihar, where a 20-year-old man died after eating restaurant packaged Manchurian and Kadhai Paneer.



According to a news report by Aaj Tak, Vishal, the deceased and his brother and friends fell seriously after eating restaurant-packed food. The deceased man had dinner with his brother and friends at around 10:30 p.m and later at night he started vomitingm the report states. When his condition worsened, he was taken to Bhabua Sadar Hospital at 4:30 a.m, where doctors declared him dead. The report also states that Vishal's sacred thread ceremony was scheduled for April 20th, and the family was filled with joy. This incident has plunged the entire family into mourning. While the exact cause of death and further action will be determined only after the post-mortem report and lab tests. The incident has once again raised questions about the hygiene of eating outside.






Reasons for food poisoning


Bacterial Contamination: According to experts, the most common cause of food poisoning is bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. These can enter food through improper handling, unclean surfaces, contaminated water, or uncooked food.




Improper storage: During summer months, food spoils faster and when it is left at room temperature for too long, bacteria multiply rapidly and it becomex toxi for humna body.




Undercooked or raw food: Food poisoning also happens when the food is undercooked, especially meat, eggs, or seafood and they can expose you to harmful microbes that haven’t been killed by heat. Even raw vegetables can carry germs if not washed and cooked properly.




Contaminated water or ingredients: This mostly happens with street food, where unsafe water is used for cooking or washing food. It can introduce harmful pathogens into food and make it unfit for human consumption.







Cooking safety rules to follow in summer

According to experts, making dishes like Manchurian and Kadhai Paneer at home is always satisfying, but they also require extra care during home cooking. Here are five important safety measures to keep in mind during the summer.




Wash and prep ingredients properly: When it comes to dishes like manchurian, it is very important to wash and clean vegetables like cabbage and manchurian, which are highly prone to worms. If not treated correctly, they may cause severe health issues, which can be fatal too. Also, for dishes like kadhai paneer, paneer needs to be thoroughly checked for purity before cooking. The market is flooded with adulterated paneer, which can cause severe food-borne illnesses.




Maintain clean cooking surfaces: While cooking at home, it is important to pay attention to hygiene and cleanliness. Make sure that the kitchen platform, chopping board, knives and all other utensils are disinfected. A minor mistake can lead to major food-borne illness.




Be careful while frying: While deep-frying the manchurian balls or shallow-frying paneer, make sure the oil is not overheated, and also ensure the food is evenly fried and cooked. Undercooked foods are often the breeding ground of bacteria, which is not a good sign.




Always check sauce and spices before using: Let us accept it: food items like soy sauce, vinegar, chili sauce, and corn flour are not used daily. So, when you use such items for dishes like manchurian, make sure to read the label, check their expiry date and then use them. Also, sometimes these items go stale after lying on the shelf for a longer period. Always make sure to check before consumption. For dishes like kadhai paneer, check the date of cream and malai before adding them to enhance the taste and texture of the dish.




Store and reheat properly: It often happens that when we cook at home, there is also some surplus food. So, be extra careful while storing the leftovers. Make sure the container is clean and odor-free. Also, while reheating foods like manchurian and kadhai paneer, which are heavy on spices, check the taste and if there is any foul taste or smell, immediately discard it.








3 rules to follow while eating ordered food at home during summer


Always check packaging and freshness: When consuming outside food at home, make sure the seal is intact and there are no signs of leakage or tampering. It is also suggested to check the smell and appearance of food. If anything feels off, throw away the food.




Reheat when necessary: It often happens that ordered food turn cold. Reheating the food is the only option. At that time, make sure that you transfer the food from package to a microwave-safe bowl and then reheat it. Avoid reheating the food in the same container. Remember, reheating food helps kill potential bacteria and makes the food safer to consume.




Don’t delay consumption: Once the ordered food arrives, avoid letting it sit out for too long. Eat it within 30-40 minutes. Leaving food at room temperature for longer can lead to bacterial growth.



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