Explained: Young man dies after eating Kadhai Paneer and Manchurian! Learn from experts how to cook and eat food in summer

20 year old Vishal reached the restaurant in Bhabua, Bihar at around 10:30 pm with his brother and friends. Got Manchurin and Kadhai Paneer packed from there and then finished it after eating and drinking. After some time he started vomiting. When his condition worsened, he was taken to Bhabhua Sadar Hospital at 4:30 in the morning, where doctors declared him dead. It came to light from the family that preparations were going on for her sacred thread, but everything changed in one night. The postmortem report has not come yet, but the doctors told the reason – wrong eating habit in summer. Are you also a slave to this habit? Let us understand in the explainer…

Question 1: What is the trend of wrong eating habits in summer?
answer: Bacteria like Salmonella, E.coli and Listeria grow very rapidly in heat and humidity. The temperature between 4°C to 60°C is the ‘danger zone’ for them. If outside food, packaged food from restaurants or leftover food at home is kept outside for more than 2 hours, bacteria turn the food poisonous. If water, vegetables or cheese in a restaurant is dirty, then the whole family can become ill from a single plate, then food poisoning occurs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), if special attention is not paid to food safety in summer, mild illness and even death can occur.

Question 2: Why are there more risks in dishes like Manchurian and Kadhai Paneer?
answer: Manchurian contains vegetables like cabbage, carrots which get easily contaminated due to insects. If soy sauce, vinegar, chili sauce or cornflour is expired or old then they become poison. Paneer in Kadhai Paneer is often found adulterated and the problem increases when the cream gets spoiled. Both dishes contain oil, spices and gravy, which spoil quickly in the heat. If food is not cooked properly or is kept cold, bacteria start growing. The danger increases with this.

Question 3: Then what precautions should be taken while cooking at home?
answer: According to a report by HealthyChildren.org:

• Clean vegetables and accessories: For Manchurian, grate the cabbage, wash it thoroughly and check for insects. Check the purity of the cheese, because adulterated cheese is very common in the market.
• Keep the kitchen clean: Wash chopping boards, knives, utensils with hot water and soap every time. Keep raw and cooked food separate.
• Cook well: Fry the Manchurian balls or paneer well, do not leave it raw in the middle. The oil should neither be too hot nor too hot.
• Check out the sauces and spices: Check the expiry date of soya sauce, vinegar, chilli sauce. Also check the cream in the Kadhai Paneer.
• Store leftover food properly: Keep leftover food in a clean container in the refrigerator. When reheating, pour into a microwave-safe vessel. Do not heat in packet. If it smells or tastes bad then throw it away.

Take these precautions not just for Manchuriya or Kadhai Paneer, but for all types of food.

Question 4: What precautions should be taken while eating food ordered from outside or packaged?
answer: According to the report of Samprada Multispeciality Hospital,

• Check the packaging, the seal is not broken and there is no leakage.
• Observe the smell and appearance of the food. If anything looks suspicious, don’t eat it.
• Once the food has cooled down, put it in a separate vessel and heat it thoroughly (up to 165°F or 74°C).
• Eat the food within 30-40 minutes of arrival. Don’t keep it out for too long.
• In summer, never leave food at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Question 5: How costly can a small mistake cost?
answer: According to WHO report, eating from one wrong plate in summer can send the entire family to the hospital. It is better to cook at home, but eat outside food also with caution. Use the fridge properly, check the temperature and don’t forget cleanliness. Big problems can be avoided by following small rules. Always follow these 5 big rules:

1. Maintain cleanliness: Wash hands with soap for 20 seconds, keep utensils and kitchen clean.
2. Keep raw and cooked separate: Raw meat/vegetable juice should not mix with cooked food.
3. Cook well: Cook food to at least 70°C. Clean the meat thoroughly.
4. Keep at the right temperature: Keep hot food above 60°C, cold food below 5°C. Keep the fridge set at 4°C.
5. Use clean water and ingredients: Boil water and drink it, wash fruits and vegetables and check the expiry.

If symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, fever or weakness appear, go to the doctor immediately. Take ORS to avoid dehydration. In severe cases, IV fluids and tests in hospital are necessary. Symptoms of food poisoning may start in 2-6 hours. Children, elderly and pregnant women are at greater risk.