Handling of perishable food during MCO

Does MCO changed your lifestyle and eating habits? Many of us store food or buy take away food in order to stay home longer or to reduce our exposure to the public.  While having such good practice during MCO, do bear in mind that the food should be handled properly, so that we do not worry about having food poisoning and adding hassle.

So we go out to the food store mostly alone, and now perhaps more than 1 family members together. In the food store, do select good quality of raw food, especially the high risk food like chicken, seafood, meat and so on.  Spoiled raw food will result high bacteria load on the food and perhaps contains toxins excreted by the bacteria.  The food is therefore not advisable to be consumed even to cook it thoroughly.  Thus, do select meats that is not swollen, not in blue colour, no slime, no broken  and no odour smell.  It is best to buy high risk food at the end of our purchasing (last item to buy). This is to shorten the exposure of the food to the air, without preservation (by ice).

No matter you are usually buying food for your family or otherwise, you will experience the way that the hypermarket or supermarket cashier pack all items when you are paying. You will notice that food and non-food will be packed separately. This is very important.  As non-food item might have some substance / liquid (of chemical) leaking / excreted and contaminate the food. Also, do separate perishable and non-perishable food to avoid cross contamination. For instance, fishes and vegetable. Perishable foods is best to be kept in a separate box, preferable a cooler box. After finish purchasing, do return to home as soon as possible.

Well, after purchasing perishable food, do clean the raw food and cut them in pieces, according to the needs of cooking. Keep the food into enclosed container and store the food into refrigerator to prolong the food’s shelf life. What if there is no refrigerator? Well, you have to buy the quantity that is enough for a day cooking and do frequent purchasing. And, make sure to buy the food quantity that is fit to be kept into the refrigerator. Not too pack until no ventilation in it.  Always practice FIFO to ensure every food is fresh (or at least good quality) when preparing food. Do check also expiry date for packaged food.

This practices applies to everybody including the food vendors, especially now that we are allowed to sell take away food only. So that customers always enjoy good and safe food.

Credit: Food Safety and Quality Division, Ministry of Health