What is food and beverages water?

 

How important is safe kitchen water?

In many developing countries tap water is often untreated, or not adequately treated, and is unsafe to drink. It is very important to use safe water for washing fruits and vegetables,preparing beverages and meals that will not boil and making ice cubes. Also is important to use safe water to clean the surfaces used for food preparation and for washing the dishes, if dishwahing machines that sterilize the content are not used.

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What can a hotel or resort do to have safe kitchen water?

If tap water is not safe, the following measures can be taken to treat water:

 

	Boiling:is the best method of disinfecting.
	Chemical treatment with chlorine or iodine: chlorine may not kill giardia ( a parasite found all over the world) and its disinfectant activity depends on several factors, such as water temperature, organic content and length of contact time. iodine could be more effective, but water is safe if a slight taste of iodine is present, so it could be unpleasant. Pregnant women and persons with thyroid problems should not use iodine. Long term use of iodine is not recommended.
	Filtering: most filters remove bacteria, parasites and visible material from water.There is a wide range of filters and the effectiveness of the units depends mainly on pore size, that have to be of one micron or less (small enough to trap parasites and most bacteria) and the adequate operation and maintenance. To remove viruses, the filter must also incorporate a chemical action. Carbon filters absorb unpleasant odors, but do not kill micro-organisms

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What can I eat or drink where I am not sure that kitchen water is safe?

	Most foods that are well cooked and served steaming are safe to eat. Meat, poultry and seafood should be well cooked. (Microwaving may not destroy bacteria.)
	Fruits and vegetables which you wash with safe water and peel yourself are safe to eat.
	Good hand washing with safe water and soap before eating is important.
	Avoid fresh leafy vegetable and fresh fruits with broken skins. Watermelon and cantaloupe should be avoided because unsafe water is sometimes injected into the melon to make it weigh more.
	All raw food can become contaminated, especially in areas where sanitation and hygiene are poor. Avoid ice cream, meringues, unbaked pastries and soft cheeses. Avoid buffets, especially foods with mayonnaise, sauce, cream or custard. Avoid undercooked eggs, meat, poultry and seafood. Avoid raw, marinated or smoked fish as it may contain parasites. Avoid unpasteurized milk products, including yogurt. Milk may be boiled although this destroys much of the protein. Powdered milk products are safe when mixed with boiled or treated water.
	Drink only safe bottled water or beverages made with boiled water.
	Hot beverages such as tea and coffee are generally safe to drink.
	Avoid ice cubes.