After the Spring Festival, be careful of the "health killers" hidden in the refrigerator!

Before I knew it, the Spring Festival holiday was over

Refrigerator at home

But still filled with delicious food

Experts advise

The refrigerator is not a "safe"

Beware of the hidden "health killer"

The Spring Festival holiday is about to end, and many families are used to storing the remaining New Year's goods in the refrigerator to enjoy slowly. Many people believe that the refrigerator is a "safe" for food, and food can be kept fresh and free from contamination by putting it in the refrigerator. Little do they know that there are many microorganisms that can adapt to low temperatures. Once the temperature is suitable, it will accelerate the deterioration of food and the spread of pathogens. If you are not careful, it will cause food poisoning and harm your health. Gastroenterology experts remind that the storage of remaining New Year's goods in the refrigerator should be "scientific" and be careful of the "health killers" hidden in the refrigerator.

01-Listeria

The full name is Listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium can still grow and reproduce in an environment of 4°C. It is one of the main pathogens that threaten human health in refrigerated foods. It is very easy to lurk in refrigerated foods such as dairy products and poultry products. After infection, it can cause infectious mononucleosis, and can also cause meningitis, sepsis, etc.

02-Yersinia

The full name is Yersinia enterocolitica, which is also one of the foodborne pathogens. It can be found in raw vegetables, milk and dairy products, meat, soy products, salads, oysters, clams and shrimps, etc. After infection, the main symptoms are gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc. Some patients may develop diseases such as endocarditis, reactive arthritis, tissue abscesses, and even sepsis.

Separate raw and cooked food. Uncooked ingredients should be kept separate from cooked dishes. The cleaner the food, the closer it should be to the top. For example, cooked food should be placed on top, and raw meat, poultry, and vegetables should be placed at the bottom. All foods should be stored in separate containers, such as plastic bags, plastic wrap, and fresh-keeping boxes, to prevent cross-infection between dishes. Some ready-to-eat foods should be stored separately to avoid contact with other foods and contamination.

Freezing is preferred. Studies have shown that at 4°C, the growth rate of bacteria is significantly faster than at -20°C, and meat is more likely to breed bacteria, so when storing meat, freezing should be considered first.

Label. To ensure the freshness of food, put a small label on the food storage bag to mark the freezing or preservation time. This can prevent accidental ingestion of food that has been stored for too long and has produced bacteria and toxins. It is best to throw away dishes that have exceeded their shelf life and not eat them.

Heat thoroughly. If you are reheating leftovers from the refrigerator, it is very important to heat them thoroughly. Especially some meat dishes are rich in nutrients and bacteria multiply quickly. If they are not heated thoroughly, there is a risk of food poisoning. They must be boiled and kept for more than 5 minutes. If the leftovers have been left for a long time, it is recommended to extend it to 15 minutes.

Timely. Don't store food for too long. If it is too long, even in a low temperature environment, bacteria will slowly multiply and toxins will slowly form. For leftovers, vegetables and soy products, the storage time should not exceed 24 hours, and meat food should not exceed 48 hours.

In addition, clean the refrigerator regularly to keep it clean and tidy.

When eating unclean food, you can take the following emergency measures: 1. Drinking water: Immediately drink plenty of clean water to dilute the toxins. 2. Induce vomiting: Use your fingers to press the throat and vomit out as much food as possible from the stomach.

3. Storage

Problematic food should be handled promptly and samples should be kept to prevent more people from eating it and to facilitate subsequent investigations.

4. Call for help

Go to the hospital immediately for treatment. The earlier you go to the hospital, the better the treatment. If it exceeds 2 hours, the poison will be absorbed into the blood, which will increase the difficulty of treatment.

Warm Tips: Although refrigerators are good, keeping food fresh is more beneficial to health! If you feel unwell, please see a doctor as soon as possible to avoid delaying treatment.