The doctor gave recommendations on choosing a safe barbecue

With the start of the picnic season, supermarket shelves have filled up with packaged meat kits, but the attractive packaging may hide serious health risks. Vladimir Neronov, an infectious disease specialist at JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg Clinic), MD, told Izvestia about the dangers of ready-made marinated kebabs from stores on April 30.

The expert noted that manufacturers often add stabilizers, thickeners and acidity regulators to the product, although only meat, onions, salt and spices are indicated on the label. During laboratory tests, salmonella and E. coli were found in some shipments, which indicates violations during storage and transportation.

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The specialist gave recommendations on choosing a relatively safe store-bought barbecue. First of all, you should pay attention to the color and smell: the meat should not be gray or sticky, and the sharp acetic aroma can mask a spoiled product. The composition should be as short as possible — only meat, onion, salt, spices, vinegar or lemon juice. Special attention should be paid to the storage temperature: the packaging should be cold, and the shelf life should not exceed 5-7 days.

Neronov strongly recommends cooking shish kebab yourself. According to him, there are three reasons in favor of homemade barbecue.

"You control the quality of the meat: you buy fresh pork or chicken, rather than relying on the manufacturer's good faith. Natural marinade: no preservatives, just salt, pepper, onion and favorite spices. Savings: ready—made shish kebab is often more expensive than meat, plus the ingredients for the marinade," the doctor explained.

If you can't avoid buying ready-made marinated meat, the expert advises cooking it on the same day, thoroughly frying it over coals. He noted that it is better to spend an hour on an independent marinade than to risk your health.

Earlier, on April 24, Janeta Borlakova, an endocrinologist and nutritionist at the Russian Railways-Medicine family clinic, told Izvestia about the acceptable portion of barbecue for the May holidays. According to her, 100-150 grams is enough to enjoy the taste without feeling heavy in the stomach. The expert also recommends adding fresh vegetables and herbs to the table, as well as grilled vegetables — they go well with meat and reduce the burden on the digestive system.