ANNIE Young raised a common misconception in her column on July 10 ("Confessions of a tennis tragic").
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Ms Young wrote how she was violently ill at Melbourne Park when watching the tennis and blamed the “ordinary food” in a free hamper that she ate while waiting for a match to begin.
Often when we are physically sick like this, run to the toilet in quick succession or feel generally unwell. we assume it is caused by the last meal we ate.
Not always. In many cases the illness may not be caused by what you ate 30 minutes ago but what you consumed up to 72 hours prior.
More surprisingly, it may have been caused by something you prepared and ate at home, rather than something you bought while out and about.
When the council investigates gastro outbreaks it generally finds it was not caused by the food served but someone passing on more than their congratulations in a kiss or a handshake.
For food poisoning to occur there must be bacteria in the food already and it must have time to grow and multiply (usually when food is not stored at the correct temperature).
The council works closely with local food businesses to ensure customers do not become ill, by conducting thorough spot checks, random testing of food for micro contamination and education.
A clean business is good for business.
Any business that fails to abide by this motto will suffer the consequences and the council will take the appropriate action to ensure food safety becomes their top priority.
You can also make smart decisions at home by buying food from reputable suppliers with clean premises.
Avoid spoiled foods or foods past their use-by date.
Store chilled food at five degrees or less and heat hot food to 60 degrees or more.
If you, your family or friends do become sick and think it is due to the food you bought then see a doctor.
They can run tests to help identify the type of bacteria that made you sick, and report the illness to the council so its health officers can investigate.
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