Monday 22 December 2025 – 06:02 AM
The Ministry of Health and Population stressed the importance of adhering to food safety procedures when serving or storing food, in order to reduce the risks of food contamination and preserve the health of citizens, especially in light of the high temperatures.
5 essential steps to keep food safe during serving or storage
The Ministry explained, in an awareness circular, that one of the most important rules that must be followed is not to leave cooked food at room temperature for more than two hours, as this may cause the proliferation of harmful bacteria that threaten food safety.
The Ministry stressed the necessity of refrigerating all cooked and perishable foods immediately upon completion of their preparation, noting that the ideal temperature for cooling should be less than 5 degrees Celsius, to ensure that the quality of the food and its suitability for consumption is maintained.
The Ministry of Health also recommended keeping cooked food hot at a temperature of more than 60 degrees Celsius before serving it, stressing that this limits the growth of microbes and reduces the chances of food poisoning.
The Ministry warned against storing food in the refrigerator for unnecessarily long periods, stressing the importance of taking into account the shelf life and the correct preservation method for each type of food.
The Ministry stressed the necessity of avoiding thawing food at room temperature, explaining that the safe way to thaw frozen food is by placing it in the refrigerator, using cold water, or the microwave, in order to preserve the safety and quality of the food.
The Ministry of Health and Population called on citizens to adhere to these preventive guidelines, as part of its ongoing awareness-raising role to preserve public health and prevent diseases related to food contamination.
