According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, in March, Hanoi and the Northern provinces continue to maintain humid weather patterns, drizzle, and air humidity is often at a high level, many days above 90%.
In prolonged humid conditions, food preservation becomes particularly important. High humidity creates a favorable environment for bacteria and mold to grow quickly, increasing the risk of food poisoning, digestive disorders, acute diarrhea, especially in young children, the elderly and people with underlying diseases.
According to experts, refrigerators are still a common and effective option to slow down the process of food spoilage. However, although the cold and dry environment helps inhibit bacteria, it only slows down but does not kill bacteria, especially when the refrigerator is overloaded or poorly hygienic. Food is still prone to mold if not wrapped tightly, thawed incorrectly, or stored for too long.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Dr. Truong Hong Son - Director of the Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine - said that many families have a habit of cooking many foods, then dividing them into smaller portions, putting them in the refrigerator and reheating them over and over again for a few days. In humid conditions, frequently opening and closing the refrigerator, improperly arranging food or storing it for too long can increase the risk of cross-infection.
Keeping in the refrigerator also has a shelf life, cooked and raw foods need to be kept separate, leftover food should be stored in sealed containers, and when reused, it needs to be heated thoroughly" - the doctor emphasized.
When food shows signs of discoloration, strange odor, greasy or moldy, you should absolutely not regret it. Doctors also remind you not to abuse storing too much food in the humid season. At the same time, families should cook just enough, limiting leftover food for many days.
In addition, the kitchen space and food storage area need to be kept dry and clean. Humid air from the environment can make food spoil faster, so you should regularly clean kitchen cabinets and refrigerators and use a dehumidifier or ventilation fan to maintain dryness and ventilation.
If signs such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, fever after eating appear, people need to closely monitor, replenish adequate water and electrolytes, in case symptoms persist or worsen, they need to go to a medical facility for timely examination.
