In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

As the hearts look forward to the month of Ramadhaan and all the goodness our Lord brings us within it, it can be noted that sometimes we behave with some level of heedlessness about dunyaa (worldly) matters, which might lead to considerable harm to ourselves, our family, and/or our entire Muslim community. This article addresses one such concern about food safety.

Whether you host a gathering at your home, help serve catered food at an Islamic center, or get involved in any level of serving food, you should know about the most recent guidelines by food safety experts regarding the preservation and storage of leftovers.

THE DANGER ZONE

USDA guidelines are based on scientific studies of how fast bacteria develops and grows in foods left at certain temperatures. One of the most important of those guidelines is the two-hour rule. Foods left out for serving without any warming device should be stored within two hours. Studies shows that after two hours, when food is left out in the danger zone, i.e., between 40° F and 140° F, bacteria within it grows much more rapidly, in a way that can be hazardous to our health, especially for our children, elders, and those more sensitive or vulnerable!

Bacteria grow rapidly between the temperatures of 40° F and 140° F. After food is safely cooked, hot food must be kept hot at 140° F or warmer to prevent bacterial growth. Within 2 hours of cooking food or after it is removed from an appliance keeping it warm, leftovers must be refrigerated. Throw away all perishable foods that have been left in room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if the temperature is over 90° F, such as at an outdoor picnic during summer).

Source: Leftovers and Food Satefy (USDA)

I strongly advise that we give careful consideration to the following matters:

1. These are government guidelines, based on scientific analysis of empirical data, not simply “What So-and-So has been doing for years…,”  and, “Nobody got sick…,” etc., claims that are not based on any actual follow-up or study, just whimsical claims. Community leaders need to take these issues very seriously and not dismiss them based on “what we’ve been doing” or other claims. Continue reading →