Our country's traditional festival, the Spring Festival, is approaching, and buying convenient cooked foods from supermarkets has become an essential part of people's New Year shopping. The Ningxia Administration for Industry and Commerce reminds consumers that problematic cooked foods can seriously harm their health, so six points must be noted when purchasing cooked foods and semi-finished products in supermarkets.
First, choose to buy cooked foods in supermarkets that meet hygiene standards. Consumers should select counters where processing and sales are completely isolated, with four-sided enclosures, dust-proof facilities, and dedicated sales personnel. Use sanitized tongs to handle food, and do not buy cooked foods from supermarkets or stores that sell them in the open air.
Second, pay attention to selecting products with complete, standardized labels, and clear expiration dates and production dates. Pay special attention to whether the cooked food is clearly marked with storage conditions and requirements, such as cooked meat products that should be stored at specified temperatures.
Third, be aware of whether cooked foods are subject to secondary contamination during the sales process. Supermarkets have heavy traffic and serious air pollution. However, most supermarkets sell cooked foods on open shelves, allowing consumers to pick and taste them freely, which can lead to gastrointestinal diseases or food poisoning.
Fourth, enhance personal hygiene awareness and change unhealthy consumption habits. When buying cooked foods, do not randomly touch or select bulk cooked foods. You should ask a dedicated staff member to weigh them for you and do not handle them with your bare hands.
Fifth, after purchasing cooked foods, store them strictly according to the requirements, and before consumption, process and sterilize them in strict accordance with food safety standards.
Sixth, remember to ask for and keep your shopping receipts. If your legitimate rights and interests are infringed upon, you can use the receipts to file a complaint with the relevant departments.