Leaving food out

[Will B Good]

2 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Far ftom being immune   diarrheal episides from food are extremely common among Thais and definitely linked to  improper good storage, which is also very common. In both cases, also true in neighboring countries. Many Thais do not go a  week without a brief episode of diarrhea...so common it is viewed as normal.  Which does not mean that it is  or that it is harmless. 

 

The problem is that refrigerators were traditionally  thought of as serving the purpose of making things cold, and thus used only for things one wants to consume cold. Only the unusually well educated know that reftigeration retards food dpoilage. 

 

Add to this traditionsl practice of buying ftom the market daily Which made unrefrigerated storage more feasible (but still not idesl). 

 

Of course times have changed, many households everyone works, people increasingly buy in larger amounts from supermarkets etc but old habits die hard, edpecially when there is limited knowledge of the relevant  science. 

 

Obviously these are generalizations and more educated Thais differ.  But people have grown up with the idea that a refrigerator is a luxury item designed to make things cold as a taste preference (hence so few large ones) while in the West they have long been understood as a means of preventing contamination and spoilage. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

....and in rural environments many do not have a fridge, let alone a freezer.....they rely on daily ice deliveries.....when they have the money to spare.

[spidermike007]

Thais suffer from alot of stomach diseases, and many die young. Just because they do it, doesn't mean it is a healthy way to live. Bacteria is everywhere, but bad bacteria in the gut is not a good thing. 

[Gottfrid]

4 hours ago, KannikaP said:

How does it work over here?

Are you new to Thailand? 😂 How long have you seen this?

I have seen it all my time here. Now for 27 years. As I have lived here all the time, and tried everything they eat, more bacteria culture has adjusted, as it does to almost all countries food and way of handling food. For me it´s a zero issue.

[MalcolmB]

1 hour ago, Cameroni said:

 

Not in my experience, a little anal and the girls make a spectacle of themselves.

Probably because it is little. 
 

[Cameroni]

1 minute ago, MalcolmB said:

Probably because it is little. 
 

 

You may have a point, that could be why the Russians do so well in that area of course.

[Cameroni]

Getting back on topic, have you ever noticed one of the true mysteries of life? Your coffee table... no fruit flies whatsoever. None. Zero. You put some fruit. Leave it one day. And out of NOWHERE when there was nothing before, fruit flies suddenly appear.

 

How does that even happen?

 

There were none. You leave a few fruit and BINGO! Fruit flies...

 

Life is amazing, isn't it?

 

Like a magic trick. Where did they even come from???

 

I'm pretty sure they weren't in the fruit. I'm even more sure they weren't on my coffee table. But put a little water melon...and there they are!!!

[VBF]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

Far from being immune   diarrheal episides from food are extremely common among Thais and definitely linked to  improper good storage, which is also very common. In both cases, also true in neighboring countries. Many Thais do not go a  week without a brief episode of diarrhea...so common it is viewed as normal.  Which does not mean that it is,  or that it is harmless. 

 

The problem is that refrigerators were traditionally  thought of as serving the purpose of making things cold, and thus used only for things one wants to consume cold. Only the unusually well educated know that refrigeration retards food spoilage. 

 

Add to this traditional practice of buying from a fresh  market daily ...Which made unrefrigerated storage more feasible (but still not ideal). 

 

Of course times have changed, many households everyone works, people increasingly buy in larger amounts from supermarkets etc but old habits die hard, edpecially when there is limited knowledge of the relevant  science. 

 

Obviously these are generalizations and more educated Thais differ.  But people have grown up with the idea that a refrigerator is a luxury item designed to make things cold as a taste preference (hence so few large ones) while in the West they have long been understood as a means of preventing contamination and spoilage. 

Thanks @Sheryl

May I add  that if  I have hot food leftovers, I  always wait until it cools, then refrigerate it - if I'm not certain that I'll use it the next day I freeze it.  So, in my case, the refrigerator does make the food colder but also keeps it cool and safe from marauding insects etc.

 

But I do think that we Westerners are a little too "precious" and don't allow our immune systems to work. I think (and you will correct me if I'm wrong) that the immune system weakens if unused, like other  parts of our bodies, muscles in particular.

 

In England, there used to be a saying "You have to eat a peck of dirt before you die" - in no way is that to be considered scientific but I think it's still true!

[connda]

1 hour ago, sungod said:

Next step, dont take ice in drinks......

Yes yes yes.  Good point.  The ice will kill you for sure.

[KhaoHom]

3 hours ago, jaideedave said:

I put an end to her leaving food out overnight straight away.It immediately caused a rodent/mouse issue.I never had the problem before that.

It took a few of the sticky mats to catch them all. I got her to dispose of the mat with the still struggling mickey on it and she was cured.

They just don't know any better.

Small ants can also be an issue in Thai kitchens. A good fix was a simple peppermint oil mixed with a little water.Spray and wipe down the counters with that.Worked a treat and they disappeared.Available on Lazada/Shopee cheap.

 

 

Tell me you married a woman from issan, live in issan without telling me you ....

[Sheryl]

53 minutes ago, VBF said:

 I think (and you will correct me if I'm wrong) that the immune system weakens if unused, like other  parts of our bodies, muscles in particular.

 

 

 

The immune system gets plenty of use, without needing to be intentionally exposed to spoiling food etc.

 

Our world is hardly a sterile bubble, we are surrounded by (and breathing/ingesting) million of organisms everyday.

 

 

[VBF]

3 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

 

The immune system gets plenty of use, without needing to be intentionally exposed to spoiling food etc.

 

Our world is hardly a sterile bubble, we are surrounded by (and breathing/ingesting) million of organisms everyday.

 

 

I hadn't looked at it like that - thank you.

[how241]

4 hours ago, connda said:

Regarding worms?  I do anthelmintics proprolaxis, ie, I take worm meds along with my dogs and cats.  I've got a lot of animals and worms happen. 

I'm curious about the necessity of taking worm meds.  I have asked some pharmacists and they say they take worm pills 1-2 times a years.  I have been taking both types of worm pills once a year. I wonder if it is needed as I don't think I have ever had worms.  I don't eat street food and mostly cook myself at home.  I never eat anything raw and everything is cooked closer to well done as I want to be sure I have killed all the potential parasites.   An I taking these pills for no reason ??? Thanks for any info.

[Equatorial]

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Far from being immune   diarrheal episides from food are extremely common among Thais and definitely linked to  improper good storage, which is also very common.

 

Very true - as is the rest of the post!

 

I'll add that many Thais have health issues because of the spicy hot food that they consume. When my wife was having stomach problems I took her to the Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok, and the doc explained to me that her symptoms are very common in the Thai population and are caused by the spicy foods. 

[Equatorial]

1 hour ago, how241 said:

I'm curious about the necessity of taking worm meds.

 

I have heard (from Thais) that the most common source of parasites are the fermented crab some of them eat in their som-tam (green papaya salad). I think if you're eating properly heat prepared foods there is no reason to assume you need to take worm meds, but this is just my thinking, I don't have all the facts. I'd be curious to know if anyone has any info... 

[Equatorial]

3 hours ago, VBF said:

May I add  that if  I have hot food leftovers, I  always wait until it cools, then refrigerate it

 

I've heard that people do that, but I still have not figured out why. The only difference is that in the refrigerator it cools faster (it does not really make a difference but, if anything, it's better). 

[RocketDog]

7 hours ago, Stocky said:

Other way round I think, the modern Western fixation with trying to live in a totally sanitised environment means westerners have lost that immunity or resilience to bacteria.

I share ice cream with my dog. Have for 50 years. Keeps me immunized!

😁

 

The American CDC has been airing public service announcements for years asking people to stop over-sanitizing their kitchens; Saying that kids are growing up with virgin immune systems.

 

I never bandage or clean superficial small cuts and scrapes. If it's a puncture wound I force it to bleed out for a few minutes and move on. Deeper cuts get some superglue and a bandage. 

And yes, I work with my hands a lot.

 

YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM:

USE IT OR LOSE IT.

[emptypockets]

10 hours ago, KannikaP said:

My Mrs regularly leaves food dishes out on the kitchen table, including rice which was cooked the night before. This morning I found a tub of left over KFC.

She, and other family incl. 4 year old, eat it no problem, with no side effects.

When I was at cookery college it was instilled in us not to leave anything at room temperature for more than a couple of hours. I also read that KFC (in UK) dispose of any food not sold within a certain length of time.

How does it work over here?

Go to Myanmar for an eye opener 

[VBF]

1 hour ago, Equatorial said:

 

I've heard that people do that, but I still have not figured out why. The only difference is that in the refrigerator it cools faster (it does not really make a difference but, if anything, it's better). 

In my albeit limited experience if food cools too quickly, the tasted and texture seem to suffer.

As bad is if  you defrost food too quickly.

 

To the original point, this is what I believe:.

https://www.bosch-home.co.uk/stories/tips-and-tricks/can-you-put-hot-food-in-the-fridge

[Celsius]

Wow, if I wanted to live in a pigsty I would have married a pig 🤢 

[SAFETY FIRST]

10 hours ago, KannikaP said:

This morning I found a tub of left over KFC.

Left out of the fridge Thai food is acceptable for Thai consumption. 

 

Crappy food, fast food KFC etc .... No, no no. 

 

If you love your wife put the processed crap food in the fridge please. 

 

[emptypockets]

7 hours ago, connda said:

Ditto. Undercooked or raw beef is tapeworm territory.  I give it a pass.  If you like your beef rare to raw, then best to be taking a anthelmintic proprolaxis.
Raw seafood.  God I Love It - sushi. One of my fondest time of my life was visits to Japan and trips to Kaiten Zushis (Sushi on converter belt restaurant.) or going to sushi bars when I was on travel and could expense it - Great stuff but I will only eat it at know japanese restaurants with sushi bars. I'm pretty picky about the Thai versions.  There's probably one of my few food phobias.  Regarding worms?  I do anthelmintics proprolaxis, ie, I take worm meds along with my dogs and cats.  I've got a lot of animals and worms happen.  So I'm not worried about worms from raw seafood. 

Bit of an outbreak of anthrax up north apparently related to undercooked beef.

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, how241 said:

I'm curious about the necessity of taking worm meds.  I have asked some pharmacists and they say they take worm pills 1-2 times a years.  I have been taking both types of worm pills once a year. I wonder if it is needed as I don't think I have ever had worms.  I don't eat street food and mostly cook myself at home.  I never eat anything raw and everything is cooked closer to well done as I want to be sure I have killed all the potential parasites.   An I taking these pills for no reason ??? Thanks for any info.

If you also do not walk outside barefoot, sounds like your risk of parasites is indeed extremely low. 

 

 

[emptypockets]

3 hours ago, how241 said:

I'm curious about the necessity of taking worm meds.  I have asked some pharmacists and they say they take worm pills 1-2 times a years.  I have been taking both types of worm pills once a year. I wonder if it is needed as I don't think I have ever had worms.  I don't eat street food and mostly cook myself at home.  I never eat anything raw and everything is cooked closer to well done as I want to be sure I have killed all the potential parasites.   An I taking these pills for no reason ??? Thanks for any info.

If you keep chickens or any other fowl it's a good idea to work yourselves.

[Harrisfan]

55 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Left out of the fridge Thai food is acceptable for Thai consumption. 

 

Crappy food, fast food KFC etc .... No, no no. 

 

If you love your wife put the processed crap food in the fridge please. 

 

Mcdonalds burgers last 10 years outside a fridge.

[Harrisfan]

https://www.kidsnews.com.au/health/mcdonalds-burger-and-fries-still-fresh-after-10-years/news-story/879758af14c9ae701004184e82c9c1d3

 

See here

 

 

[KhunLA]

@KannikaP you might think they don't have adverse effects, but that's only because, most here think diarrhea is normal.  Guess it beats being constipated 

 

Although they can never trust a fart 🙄

[MikeN]

After a lifetime slaving over hot stoves in commercial kitchens, it makes me cringe when my wife breaks all the "rules" about food safety and never suffers any effects. Won't put leftover food in the fridge until it is cold, then eats it days later. We had grilled fish 5 days ago, she ate the leftovers today...aroi! No way was I touching it. When reheating leftover rice she won't just heat enough for her meal, she will do the lot and put the excess back on the bench to be reheated again days later. Apart from food safety issues food  loses flavour when reheated again...but as it is usually smothered in chilli I guess that don't matter!

[Cameroni]

I asked my girlfriend to make me a toast. She asked me how to operate the toaster.

[how241]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

If you also do not walk outside barefoot, sounds like your risk of parasites is indeed extremely low. 

Thanks for your response.  I always appreciate reading your posts on every subject.

I never walk barefoot and I have no animals and I'm not around  any animals. 

I guess I will skip this years worm pills.  I used to take one type for 3-4 days and another type for 3-4 days  as apparently there is one type of worm that isn't killed by the first pills. 

Thanks again for your input.

[Sierra Tango]

11 hours ago, bubblegum said:

Once ever so often they eat grass and vomit all the bad stuff out?

If that was suppossed to be funny it wasn't. If that was a serious comment then it was asinine at best.

If you had any sense of decorum at all you would treat the Thai's with more respect. Saying stupid <deleted> about Thai dining habits is really low class.

As I am limited in my ability in this forum, to cast aspersions on your character, or lack of, I can only suggest that you must be an Illegitimate cretin.