Health begins with the kitchen, the proper handling and preparation of food.
Health is a fundamental aspect of people’s daily lives, and a crucial part of staying healthy is making sure that food is free of disease and safe to eat.
Foodborne Diseases (ETA) are defined as the syndrome caused by the ingestion of food and/or water that contains etiological agents that affect the health of the people who consume them and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or other organisms. .
Among the most common conditions are typhoid fever, dysentery, polio, meningitis, salmonellosis, Escherichia coli, Trichinella spirallis, and Hepatitis A.
These discomforts can present with a wide variety of symptoms, such as fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain, as well as possible severe complications such as sepsis and other associated syndromes.
However, when two or more people are affected by the same incident, it is defined as an ATS outbreak, in this case it is necessary to verify that the affected people have consumed the same food and present similar symptoms, outbreaks can occur in homes, restaurants , fast food establishments and other places where food is prepared and consumed.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), ATS are one of the most common health problems affecting the health of people in the world, and more severely affect children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with different ailments.
It is important to highlight that, according to the National Institute of Health (INS), there has been a significant increase in the number of people affected by ATS throughout the Colombian territory. Reports indicate an increase of approximately 30% compared to the same period of the previous year.
In this regard, the NUEVA EPS Promotion and Prevention area offers some recommendations to prevent ETAs:
Wash hands properly with soap and water before handling food and after using the bathroom. This is especially important to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. Make sure foods are well-cooked, especially meats and eggs. Avoid cross contamination by keeping raw foods separate from cooked foods and using different cutting boards and utensils. Store food at safe temperatures, either in the refrigerator or freezer, to prevent the growth of bacteria. Do not leave perishable foods at room temperature for a long time. If you are not sure about the water quality, please boil or disinfect the water before consuming it, you can drink safe bottled water.