Ensuring Food Safety in the Summer Heat of the UAE

When it’s super-hot during the summer in the UAE, it’s really important to make sure our food stays safe to eat. The high temperatures can make it easier for bacteria to grow and cause food-related illnesses, but no worries! Here are some easy tips to help you keep your food safe and delicious during the scorching summer months.

1. Keeping Food Safe

• Fridge Magic: Keep foods like meat, dairy, and eggs in the fridge at 4°C or below. Try not to leave them out for too long (no more than two hours, or one hour if it’s really hot).
•  Freeze It: If you’re not planning to use something straight away, pop it in the freezer. Make sure your freezer is set at or below -18°C
• Stay Dry: Keep dry foods like grains and canned goods in a cool, dry place and seal them up tightly to keep them fresh. 

2. Handling Food Safely

• Clean Hands: Wash your hands, utensils, and surfaces really well with soap and water before and after handling food to keep things clean and safe.
• Separate Stuff: Use different cutting boards and utensils for raw meat, poultry, seafood, and ready-to-eat foods to avoid any mix-ups.
• Cook Right: Make sure to cook foods to the right internal temperatures to get rid of any yucky bacteria. A food thermometer can help you with that. 

3. Travelling with Food

• Cooler Time: Use insulated coolers with ice packs to keep perishable items chilly when you’re on the go. Try to keep food out of the fridge for as little time as possible.
• Keep It Cool: Don’t leave groceries or leftovers in a hot car. Take a cooler with you when you’re out shopping to keep your perishable items nice and cool until you get home.

4. Food Safety Fun Outdoors

•  BBQ and Picnics: Always keep raw and cooked foods separate. Use a clean plate for the cooked stuff and don’t reuse the one that held raw meat.
•  Stay Chilled: Keep your picnic food in a cooler with ice packs, in the shade, and avoid opening it too many times.

5. Staying Hydrated and Healthy Drinks

• Drink Up: Make sure your drinking water is safe. If you’re not sure, boil it or use bottled water.
• Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water, especially when you’re outside. Try to avoid sugary or alcoholic drinks because they can dehydrate you.

6. Spotting Food-Related Illnesses

• Watch Out: Keep an eye out for symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and tummy pain. If you think you’ve got food poisoning, get medical help ASAP.
•  Special Care: Be extra careful with kids, older folks, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems.

Wrap-Up

By following these tips, you can lower the chances of getting food-related illnesses and make sure your meals are safe and tasty, even when it’s crazy hot in the UAE.

Just remember, storing, handling, and preparing food the right way is super important during the hot months.

Stay cool, stay safe, and have an awesome summer!