Okaz/Saudi GazetteJEDDAH: Doctors and environment experts have issued a warning to the public about food poisoning because of the rapid growth of bacteria during summer. High temperatures cause food contamination, especially uncovered food, which might in turn lead to food poisoning, they explained. They added that 70 percent of local restaurants serving traditional dishes do not meet required health standards. They said many of the staff of these establishments do not wear clean clothes or gloves. There should be more health inspections of such restaurants, especially those scattered around the Corniche area, which are bursting with shoppers in summer, they said. Dr. Khalid Bawakid, family and community medicine consultant, says food can be contaminated in various ways. This includes bacteria, parasites, worm eggs, bacteria-born insects and rodents. Microbial food contamination, on the other hand, is one of the most widespread forms of contamination. It occurs when food is decomposed by certain microorganisms. Milk products, fruit, and improperly-stored food can all be contaminated in this manner. “People, especially those working at restaurants, are more likely to get food contamination if their level of hygiene awareness is low,” said Bawakid. Kitchen utensils are also a main source of food contamination if hygiene is poor. Storing meat and poultry with vegetable can cause contamination as well. Dr. Abdulrahman Kamas, a well-known environmental expert, said that most food poisoning cases are caused by bacterial food contamination. “Contaminated food smells and tastes like normal food and this is what makes it dangerous. Symptoms appear after eating the food.” Kamas stressed that it was important to wash fresh food such as poultry which contains Salmonella and cook it well. He warned that the majority of people do not pay attention to what they eat in summer at restaurants. Mayonnaise and ketchup quickly go bad in high temperatures and humidity. Therefore, they are more likely to have bacteria-causing microbes. Dr. Nayef Al-Shalhoob, Director of the General Department of Environment Awareness, said that the inspection teams of the Mayoralty should monitor restaurants during summer time because human food consumption increases. “The kitchens of high-class restaurants should be inspected as well,” he added. Dr. Rowaida Idris said that the symptoms of food poisoning are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach and intestinal pain. However, symptoms differ in terms of severity and the time it takes to show up. “The most common food poisoning is food-born Salmonella. This type of bacteria multiplies inside the intestines within 12 to 36 hours after which symptoms appear,” said Idris. __
