Keep food fresh – and safe to eat – in the summer heat

Summer is the peak season for many things: mountain getaways, beach trips, pool parties...and food poisoning. In an interview on GMA News TV’s “Kape at Balita,” Department of Health (DOH) undersecretary Ted Herbosa explained that food poisoning is most common during this time of year, because bacteria breed more in high temperatures. "Yung food poisoning, all year round 'yan, pero pag summer mas mataas yung chance magkaroon ng mga acute gastroenteritis kasi yung bacteria, yung causes ng acute gastroenteritis, mas gusto niya yung weather na ganito, yung mainit yung panahon, at medyo humid yung lagay,” he said. “Pag ganun, may food kang iiwan diyan, immediately kung contaminated yan ng mikrobyo, mabilis silang dadami,” he explained. Because of this, food spoils faster during the summer months. Around this time, people need to be extra careful with handling food and keeping it fresh and safe to eat. Eatery owner Mirasol Almorado shared on Kape at Balita that one of the nation's favorite meals, kare-kare, is one of the foods that spoils easily in the summer, as well as foods with gata, sauce, and tomatoes. “Bumubula yung mga sabaw niya [pag malapit na mapanis] kaya usually pag nagluluto ako, after lunch, hindi ko na siya pwede patagalin pa hanggang hapon,” she said. According to Almorado, dishes that keep well and last longer are those that have vinegar and pepper. “Usually yung mga hindi napapanis yung mga may suka, paminta, ganun. Paksiw, isda, adobo, medyo magtagal yun. Yung may bagoong, kasi kinabukasan pwede pa yun. Pero yung mga may sauce, gata, hindi na siya pwede,” she said on the Kape at Balita segment. According to a report on GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali,” food that spoil fast include starchy food such as rice or noodles, proteins and meats, and saucy or soupy dishes. Here are some tips that were shared on the report to keep food from spoiling too quickly: - Avoid placing the food in places with high temperatures or direct sunlight. - Make sure that food containers are clean before placing them in the refrigerator. - Allow food to cool a little before sealing it in a container. - Consume packed meals within four hours. — Amanda Lago/BM, GMA News