Roskachestvo gave advice on choosing ready-made food in supermarkets

When choosing ready-made food in a store, it is necessary to pay attention to the composition and storage conditions in order to buy a safe product, Elena Specenko, director of the Roskachestvo Center for Food Safety Competencies, told Izvestia on September 4.

According to the expert, the main risks for consumers are related to violations of the conditions of storage and transportation of products.

"Products that have not undergone heat treatment or are already ready for consumption deserve special attention, for example, salads, confectionery with cream, multicomponent dishes of meat, poultry, fish and seafood. These categories of products are the ideal environment for the development of pathogenic microorganisms in case of non—compliance with the temperature regime," she noted.

According to her, the first and most important thing that a buyer should pay attention to is the storage conditions of the product directly in the sales area. Refrigerated display cases must be in good condition, and their temperature must strictly correspond to that indicated on the package. A careful approach to the study of expiration dates is equally important.

"Never buy a product if the date on the label is questionable, hard to read or erased. Freshness is especially important for ready meals, and even a few hours of improper storage can make the product dangerous," the specialist said.

They like it heavier: what fruits and vegetables can not be eaten every day

Experts advise taking into account the glycemic index of foods.

Special care should be taken when buying culinary products that are sold by weight without clear labeling. In this case, the consumer does not have the opportunity to study the exact composition, date of manufacture and information about allergens. This creates additional risks, especially for people with hypersensitivity to certain components.

The expert also recommends paying close attention to the appearance of the product and packaging. Leaky packaging, damaged container, unappetizing color or texture of the product, the presence of condensation inside the package should be alerted — all this may indicate violations of storage conditions.

"It is important to remember that even the right choice does not negate the need to follow the rules of storage after purchase. Ready meals should be consumed on the day of purchase and in no case should they be stored for several days, even in the refrigerator. It is necessary to reheat such products at a high temperature until they are evenly warmed up, and salads and snacks should not be re—cooled," Specsenko summed up.

Earlier, on July 4, Izvestia got acquainted with a study by Röndell, where it was reported that Russians began to abandon food delivery in favor of self-cooking. According to the survey, 35% of respondents noted that they have recently become more likely to cook at home, and 20% try to visit catering establishments less often.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.