Leaving the city, many summer residents rush to buy food in shops and markets located in the surrounding villages. After all, farm products are sold here – natural and tasty. But are cow milk and homemade cottage cheese really good for you? We find out what you can safely put on the dining table.
It should be noted that the word “farm” on the label only means the status of the farm. Most of them do not look like private farmsteads, where 10-15 well-fed chickens and a dozen geese stroll around. The fact is that the farmer grows poultry in large volumes, a small amount is simply unprofitable. Therefore, the feed is different from those used by villagers who breed chickens and geese for themselves. There is a difference in the conditions of detention, unfortunately, farmers cannot boast of a “home” approach.
They differ from industrialists who only process raw materials in that they own a plot of land on which crops, birds and animals are grown. The Veterinary Service checks the products once a month. The content of protein and fat is measured in milk, an analysis is made for staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Household eggs are tested for salmonellosis. This means that before buying, you must require documents confirming the quality, namely a veterinary certificate. It has nine degrees of protection. The mark about the well-being of the area is especially important. She says that the area is not quarantined. There should be information about the vaccinations of the animal. The certificate is issued by the district veterinarian. If there is no document, it is prohibited to export products for sale.
Chicken eggs may contain bacteria of the genus Salmonella. They are carried by poultry, and the chickens themselves do not get sick. The shell has pores, through which dangerous bacteria penetrate into the product. As a result, an intestinal infection, salmonellosis, develops. If you buy an “environmentally friendly product”, give up the supposedly healthy habit of drinking raw eggs, heat treatment is required. The yolk must be fried or boiled. If there are signs of illness – urgently see a doctor.
Symptoms: weakness, dizziness, fever, stomach pain, diarrhea. When infected, a person remains a carrier of dangerous bacteria for up to three months.
In milk may be the causative agent of brucellosis, a dangerous disease carried by cows and goats. It is almost impossible to understand that animals are infected. The disease is diagnosed only after complex analyzes. Brucella live in raw milk for 10 days, in feta cheese – up to 1,5 months. The causative agents of the disease can also be found in sour cream, especially in the one that is sold by weight, since unsealed dairy products are an excellent breeding ground for pathogenic microflora. In plastic buckets, sour cream can be stored at a temperature of 2-4 ° C for no more than 72 hours from the date of production. If the product was transported from afar, this period has been exceeded. Meat can be a source of infection. In order not to get infected, milk must be boiled. It is better to buy it from trusted manufacturers. Moreover, pasteurization of the product at the plant at a temperature of 76-78 degrees preserves all the nutrients and trace elements that are in raw milk. If symptoms appear, an urgent need to see a doctor. On examination, he can detect an increase in lymph nodes, liver, spleen. Pay attention to the date of manufacture and the region in which the product was produced. When buying meat, it is important to ask a veterinary certificate to make sure that the piece has a stamp. You can not purchase products in spontaneous markets, and it is important to thoroughly fry beef and pork. In addition, it is worth remembering the rule – you cannot cut raw meat with the same knife as other products, especially those that do not undergo heat treatment.
Symptoms: irritability, insomnia, headaches, muscle and joint pain, fever.
The other side of the coin
The owners of retail chains also use their love for natural products. Often goods of unknown origin are sold under the guise of farm milk and meat. It is very difficult to distinguish a fake by eye, and the taste is sometimes alarming only for experienced gourmets. The low price of the product can hint at a surrogate, although it is often fakes that are sold dearly. Therefore, the most important sign that is a reason for refusing to purchase is the lack of documents for the goods. By the way, if you see home-made sausages and cheese on the counter, you should know that they are sold illegally. What they are made of is beyond comprehension even in the laboratory. It is also forbidden to sell smoked fish from subsidiary farms. After all, it is not known who processed it and in what way.