To ensure that the general public has a pleasant, healthy, and safe experience during the New Year and Spring Festival, the Tianjin Cuisine Association issued a special notice on food hygiene and safety for the New Year and Spring Festival yesterday, reminding consumers to pay attention to food hygiene and safety issues whether dining at home or in restaurants.
Tip 1: Choose a reliable dining environment
When dining in a restaurant, consider whether the dining environment is clean and hygienic, whether the condiments are counterfeit or of inferior quality, and whether the tables and restrooms are equipped with complete disinfection facilities and supplies. For restaurants operating 24/7, ensure that tables are set upon customer arrival and supervised by dedicated personnel. When ordering takeout food, also choose hygienic and safe options.
Tip 2: Promote "separate serving" when entertaining friends and family
The city encourages all catering enterprises to provide separate serving services based on their conditions. Restaurants operating 24/7 should place serving chopsticks and spoons on the tables. Therefore, when dining in restaurants, especially in crowded places like stations, airports, docks, and tourist areas, it is advisable to choose those with a separate serving system to avoid cross-infection. When dining, be mindful of ordering a moderate amount of dishes, balancing your diet, and focusing on scientific, healthy, and nutritious consumption. When entertaining friends and family at home, also prepare serving chopsticks and spoons, and use them to add food or serve soup to your guests.
Tip 3: Plan for dining safety in advance
In accordance with fire safety regulations, restaurants must conduct comprehensive inspections and maintenance of their internal electrical circuits, gas pipelines, and fire exits. As a diner, you should also consider the restaurant's surroundings, such as parking availability, and whether there are safety exits in case of emergencies when the restaurant is crowded.
Tip 4: Report expired products promptly
Consumers should take "expiration date" and "best before date" seriously and not purchase expired products. If expired products are found, they should be reported to the relevant authorities promptly. If you discover the sale of counterfeit brand-name foods, mislabeled products, or contaminated food, you should report these incidents to the appropriate agencies. Reporting such incidents helps authorities investigate and penalize unscrupulous vendors and prevents the spread of such practices.
Tip 5: Keep raw and cooked foods separate when taking leftovers home
When taking leftover dishes home from a restaurant, it is important to store raw and cooked foods separately. Fresh foods like fish and meat should be packaged separately from other processed, cooked foods. After returning home, food should be properly packaged or covered before storage. Do not put hot food directly into the refrigerator, as this will raise the internal temperature. When eating seafood and barbecue at home or in a restaurant, try to ensure they are thoroughly cooked to prevent consuming bacteria.
Tip 6: Disinfect kitchen utensils
Canned and bottled foods purchased by consumers should be stored in a dry, cool place to prevent insects and rodents from contaminating them. Always wash your hands before preparing food and eating at home. If your utensils are not categorized for raw and cooked foods, after using them for raw ingredients, they must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before being used for other cooked foods or foods to be eaten raw.
Tip 7: Store food to prevent spoilage
Before the festival, consumers often like to purchase large quantities of food and vegetables, but you must consider the size of your refrigerator, the number of people dining, and the changes in outdoor temperature. Do not buy large quantities just for a bargain, leading to food spoilage and waste. Any food that has been left at room temperature for more than two hours or exposed to the air for a long time must be handled with caution before consumption. This is especially important for events that require pre-preparing large amounts of food, such as conferences, large social gatherings, or outdoor activities, where you must consider if the temperature is suitable to prevent eating spoiled or rotten food. If you are concerned that pesticides cannot be completely washed off fresh fruits and vegetables, be sure to cook them thoroughly or peel them before eating.
The Cuisine Association reminds you that if you find catering enterprises selling counterfeit or inferior foods, wildlife, or other malpractices during your dining experience, you can complain, consult, or report to the Cuisine Association, the Administration for Industry and Commerce, or the Consumer Association.