RW - foRWard Health & Wellbeing eMag - Feb26 - Flipbook - Page 25
Debunked
We want to set
the record straight
on some of the
most common
myths about food
poisoning and they
might surprise you!
One of the most common
myths is that it was the
last thing you ate that
gave you food poisoning.
In fact, it could have been
something you ate days
or even months earlier.
A new national survey
found that two-thirds
(66%) of Aussies recall
having food poisoning
or gastro, and more than
half (51%) of those people
blame the last thing they
ate. But, that’s often not
the case!
Smarter Science,
Safer Food
In the past, health
authorities had to rely on
people’s memories to 昀椀gure
out what made them sick.
Today, new technology is
helping connect the dots
much faster.
Social media posts can
quickly 昀氀ag potential
outbreaks, while whole
genome sequencing
allows scientists to
match the unique DNA
of viruses, bacteria, fungi
and parasites found in
sick people with those in
suspected foods. When
the same DNA pattern
shows up in both, it points
to a common source
helping authorities remove
contaminated foods from
sale and stop outbreaks in
their tracks.
Common Food Safety Myths Busted!
MYTH 1: Hand sanitiser is better than
handwashing.
Hand sanitiser is handy when soap and
water aren’t available, but it doesn’t kill
everything. Norovirus, a highly contagious
virus, can only be removed by washing your
hands thoroughly with soap and running
water, then drying them on a clean towel.
MYTH 2: The 昀椀ve-second rule keeps
food safe.
Sorry, bacteria don’t wait politely before
jumping on your food. Once food hits the
昀氀oor, it can pick up all sorts of nasties from
shoes, pets, and daily life. Best to toss it out.
MYTH 3: You need to throw out food
after the “best before” date.
The “best before” date is about quality, not
safety. Food can still be safe to eat after
that date but make sure to use or freeze
food by its “use by” date.
