The General Authority for Food and Drug Administration has launched a digital awareness campaign to educate the public about food poisoning, its causes, and prevention methods. This initiative is part of their continuous efforts to enhance public health and raise community awareness as outlined in their strategic plan.
Food poisoning is a medical condition that occurs after consuming contaminated food. It may not exhibit any visible signs of damage, and contamination can happen due to various reasons, including microbial factors like bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi, as well as chemical factors like natural and industrial toxins. Physical contamination, such as the presence of glass, hair, nails, or iron filings in food can also cause food poisoning.
Common symptoms of food poisoning include fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, and watery or bloody diarrhea. The transmission of diseases through food can occur at multiple stages, whether during cultivation, processing, transportation and storage, or during preparation and cooking.
In terms of prevention, the authority recommends washing hands thoroughly before and after food preparation, storing cold foods at 5 degrees Celsius or lower, hot foods at 60 degrees Celsius or higher, and avoiding leaving food at room temperature for more than two hours. It emphasizes the importance of separating raw foods from ready-to-eat foods, sanitizing surfaces and utensils used in the kitchen, while also warning against washing food with soap or sanitizers.
