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Refrigerators, essential for storing and preserving food, can become breeding grounds for bacteria if not used and cleaned properly. This article guides you on the bacteria you should be cautious about to prevent their spread in the refrigerator.
1. Salmonella Bacteria
The habitat of Salmonella bacteria is in the intestines of humans and animals. It spreads through contaminated food and water, including meat, chicken, eggshells, and other ingredients in the refrigerator.
The survival period of this bacteria is approximately 2 to 3 months. Symptoms of Salmonella infection include abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Salmonella can also lead to severe complications such as blood, urinary, joint, bone infections, and nervous system disorders in humans.
2. Vibrio Bacteria
Vibrio bacteria, often found in coastal waters, especially Vibrio parahaemolyticus, is a common disease-causing bacteria. It resides in seafood such as shrimp, clams, crabs, fish, and more.
When humans consume live seafood, symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, headaches, cramps, and bloody stools may occur. In most cases, mild Vibrio infections recover within 3 days, but improper and careless treatment can lead to dangerous complications.
3. Listeria monocytogenes Bacteria
This harmful bacteria in food can thrive in low-temperature or anaerobic environments. There is a risk of Listeria infection from consuming contaminated foods like improperly processed raw meat or unpasteurized milk, especially when stored in the refrigerator.
Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection include fever, muscle aches, chills, diarrhea, and nausea, lasting from a few days to over 30 days.
Most cases of Listeria infection exhibit mild symptoms. However, this can lead to serious complications for individuals at high risk, including those over 65 or pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.
4. Shigella Bacteria
This type of bacteria spreads through contaminated food or water exposed to feces. It irritates the intestines, leading to discomfort such as abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.
These symptoms may appear 1 to 2 days after exposure to contaminated food, lasting from 5 to 7 days. This can result in complications such as blood infections, joint inflammation, and hemolytic-uremic syndrome.
5. Guide to Preventing Food Poisoning with the Refrigerator
- Regularly clean the refrigerator, quickly wipe away spills, and use a cleaning solution to thoroughly clean the surfaces.
- Use food wrap to tightly cover food or store it in a sealed container for raw meat and seafood.
- Arrange various types of food appropriately. Remember to separate raw meat and raw vegetables as well as cooked food. This method will help prevent bacteria from spreading from one place to another.
- Remove perishable or expired foods: Avoid keeping food in the refrigerator for too long. Store cooked food in the refrigerator for no more than 4 days, and for ground meat and poultry, the storage time should not exceed 1 to 2 days.
- Adjust and check the refrigerator temperature. The ideal temperature is usually below 0 degrees Celsius, and the cool compartment should be adjusted below 5 degrees Celsius.
Above are the dangerous bacteria that can develop in the refrigerator that you need to be aware of. Save it for reference and application. Don't forget to follow Mytour to get the most useful information.
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