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Keeping food safe over hot summer: Health officials
27 Dec, 2020 05:00 PM
5 minutes to read
Christmas is over and the fridge may be stacked with leftovers. But if you re planning to eat them, senior public health officials have a stark warning. One of the Bay of Plenty s senior medical officers of public health says cases of foodborne illnesses over the summer months are not uncommon.
About 200,000 people across the country are struck down with food poisoning every year, according to the Ministry of Primary Industries. Nearly half can be attributed to lax food handling, preparation or storage practices in the home, the Ministry said.
Photo: 123rf
The Ministry for Primary Industries has launched a food safety campaign reminding everyone to Clean Cook, and Chill .
Food Safety Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall said with rising summer temperatures, the risk of food poisoning increased. Food poisoning is a significant issue in New Zealand with an estimated 100,000 people getting sick from unsafe food handling practices at home. That s why the Ministry for Primary Industries is launching an awareness campaign, reminding consumers to follow the 3 C s: clean, cook and chill, when handling, cooking and storing raw meats such as poultry, to avoid getting sick and paying the price, she said.