Eat wisely: How your lunchbox can protect you from disease
Have you heard the saying "You are what you eat"? This time-honored adage has more truth to it than many of us would admit. In a society that is constantly on the move, we often turn to the convenience of restaurants, catering services and take-away meals. But did you know that this habit can significantly increase the risk of food poisoning or gastrointestinal infections?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year one in six Americans (48 million) gets sick from 31 pathogens such as salmonella, norovirus and others that are often ingested through food. Each year, 128,000 Americans are hospitalized as a result, and about 3,000 die as a result. Surprisingly, the vast majority of these infections occur in restaurants, catering services or similar food service settings - less often in the home kitchen.
A major reason for this problem is that many restaurant and catering employees go to work and handle food despite being sick, which increases the risk of food contamination. This phenomenon is not limited to the United States. In Germany, more than a quarter of the working population reportedly go to work sick frequently or even very frequently. The problem? Many simply cannot afford to stay home when they are sick.
Another reason is the social pressure in many companies to show up for work sick when another colleague is absent. If you know how difficult it is to find employees in the catering industry, then you can well imagine that sick employees resort to medication so that they can appear at work.
The idea that, for example, a cook, waiter or kitchen assistant is sick preparing or serving your food is - if you think about it - not a nice idea.
A lunchbox could be a useful alternative.
By preparing your meals at home and taking them with you in your lunchbox, you have full control over the hygienic conditions in which your food is prepared and stored. You know that your kitchen is clean and that you have washed your hands before preparing the food. You know how your ingredients have been stored and that they have been properly cooked or fried to kill potential pathogens.
A lunchbox is more than just a container. It is a shield against the unseen dangers that can lurk in our food. It allows us to take our health into our own hands and protect ourselves from the risks associated with eating food prepared away from home.
But it's not just about safety. Bringing your own lunchbox also promotes healthy eating. You can control nutrients, calories and portion sizes, ensuring a more conscious and healthier diet. Not to mention the environmental benefits of reducing disposable packaging and food waste.
We are launching a self-heating - and cooling lunchbox in early fall. With it you can eat your meals prepared at home at any time and any place hot or cool.
Remember that safety is often hidden in the little things - and sometimes even in your lunchbox. Take your health into your own hands.
