Poison in the home

I was just reading the Electrolux Food Survey questions in today's edition of The Sun.

One of the questions listed was "What prevents you from cooking at home?" Being a "tick" type survey (which has a specific name that is not coming to mind! No wonder I got a "C" for Data Analysis), it had a list of answers. Surprisingly, one of them was worry about safety in the kitchen.

Now that is something that you would never hear being said outloud. Afterall, when someone complaints that they are suffering from food poisoning, the next to follow is where did you go and eat last night?

Food poisoning is something that happens outside. May lightening strike the devil's child who thinks that one of his / her own would attempt to compromise their food safety in the home environment! But you know what - it does happen, and the likelihood of it happening is very much higher than you think!

Having worked now in this F&B industry for 6 weeks plus, it has created a sense of awareness in me that I never really paid much attention to. Yes, I have always had 2 types of chopping boards - one for the raw food and one for veg and dried stuff. But other things, like the dish cloth, the washing up sponge, etc... it's always been one and the same.

Let's not even go to the bit on hands. The fact that washing your hands before and after handling the raw food is simply not enough. There is a reason why handlers in the restaurants wear gloves. Is it because one assumes that you know where your family / friend has been to, hence it is alright not to apply the same reasoning in the home?

To be honest, I have not cooked very much in the last 6 weeks since starting work. It's not because I've been busy. But because the level of awareness is now much heightened. And frankly, my kitchen ain't clean enough for other than throwing things in the microwave.

Have a think about it. If we really care and say that home-cooked food is the best to give our loved ones, then shouldn't we be taught food safety to be applied in the home as well?

Well, that's my rant for this morning. I really should offer to make you a nice dinner to make up for having you read this tirrade. But then again, I wouldn't want to stand guilty of poisoning you *grin*