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HANDLING FOOD IN BULK Nowadays, we use food items that are available in stores in huge quantities. It is not easy to handle food in bulk, as there could be problems in maintaining the food’s hygiene. The vehicles used to transport food also carry other products, and the cleanliness of these vehicles may not be sufficient. The food may be packed using good methods, but the places where they are stored might have unhygienic conditions. Most of these problems are difficult for consumers to control.

COOKING IN MICROWAVES Many of us just can’t do without microwave ovens. They reduce the burden of cooking and are very helpful when it comes to using packaged and frozen food. However, they can have some harmful effects on our food. The process of heat generation in microwaves can spoil the nutritional value of some food items. Also, microwaves don’t always heat food items evenly, with the result that not all the bacteria contained in the food is killed during heating.

INCREASING USE OF CHEMICALS Chemicals are also used in many types of food products. Some food items that used to be prepared naturally are now being prepared using chemicals. This is done either for profit or for meeting food requirements. The safety of food is threatened due to the presence of these chemicals. However, the chemicals used for preserving food items are generally not considered to be harmful.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Fruits and vegetables should be washed carefully before they are eaten.

• Overreliance on fast food is a significant cause of obesity in America.

• Cooking food can kill its bacteria.

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