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[av_heading tag=’h3′ padding=’10’ heading=’Holiday food binge worries DOH, too’ color=” style=’blockquote modern-quote’ custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ custom_class=”][/av_heading]
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Tuesday, December 27, 2016
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ILOILO City – The holidays are not over yet. ‘Tis the season to binge on food and the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 is wary of possible cases of food poisoning.
The public must observe proper and safe food preparation, stressed Dr. Elvie Villalobos, DOH-6 medical specialist.
DOH-6 so far recorded 37 cases of food poisoning from January to November 2016. It is aiming for zero cases of food poisoning this holiday season.
Filipinos traditionally celebrate Christmas and New Year with noche buena – dinner that comes at midnight after the family hears the late evening mass (misa de aguinaldo). But on days outside these two significant dates, people hold parties.
“This December we see so many Christmas parties and celebrations. We have to be very careful with the food that we prepare and eat,” said Villalobos.
DOH defines food safety as “all conditions and measures that are necessary during the production, processing, storage, distribution and preparation of food to ensure that it is safe, sound, wholesome, and fit for human consumption.”
Improper cooling and cooking of food may cause food-borne diseases, warned Villalobos.
“After cooking kag ang food wala ma-consume after four hours, or may nabilin pa, dapat ibutang gid ina sa refrigerator,” she said.
Haphazard cooking of food should be avoided, Villalobos stressed.
“Nagapadali ka luto, wala napatay ang kagaw,” she explained.
Improper re-heating may also cause food poisoning, the doctor added.
She shared a tip: Re-heated food should not be mixed with newly-cooked food.
Poor eating hygiene such as not washing hands before eating may also cause food poisoning, Vilallobos warned.
One having an upset stomach or symptoms of food poisoning like diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain should immediately see a doctor, she stressed. (Merianne Grace Ereñeta/PN)
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