How safe it is to eat out on a rainy day?

Food poisoning and gastroenteritis are on the rise during the transitional period between the summer and monsoon when the high atmospheric humidity promotes the growth of disease causing bacteria.
But why forgo the special joy of the season which includes standing out in the rain, enjoying sizzling hot foods like pakoras, masala chais and samosas which tastes best when bought from a vendor.

Here are discussed some practical solutions and precautions while enjoying the outside food on a rainy day:-

• All the hot food like soups, dals, sandwiches, pastas and other tandoori foods must be served piping hot and it must be well cooked. Luke warm and undercooked food provides environment good for bacterial growth.
• Similarly, frozen foods like ice cream must be served completely frozen and not partially melted. At home too, make sure you do not re-freeze melted ice cream as this creates environment suitable for bacterial growth.
• Avoid raw vegetables and salads as you never know if they have been properly washed, cleaned and stored at the right temperature before being served. Opt for stir fried veggies instead.
• Avoid chutneys and sauces that are commonly served with a lot of food items. These are usually kept and stored at room temperature for several hours in restaurants and are loaded with harmful micro-organisms.
• Avoid milk products and sweets from a restaurant or a sweet shop. They might not be stored and displayed at controlled temperatures. This is because the combination of high sugar content and milk makes for an ideal environment for bacterial growth.
• Avoid eating at roadside eateries especially those serving Pani Puri and bhel puri, as most of the ingredients may be contaminated. While eating out make sure the place you have chosen conforms to some basic standards of quality and hygiene.

The monsoon increases one’s craving for fried foods. Enjoy a happy monsoon!