The Veterinary Services of Cyprus have issued food safety guidelines for Easter meal preparations as part of the European Food Safety Authority’s Safe2Eat campaign.
The campaign aims to help citizens make informed food choices by understanding the science behind food safety, according to an announcement released today.
The guidelines emphasize that proper food preparation and selection are “crucial” for meal safety and hygiene during the holiday period.
Consumers should plan purchases to meet household needs while avoiding food waste. For packaged products, carefully reading labels provides essential information about proper storage conditions and expiration dates.
After purchase, food should be refrigerated as soon as possible. Home refrigerators should maintain temperatures around +4°C for regular storage and at or below -18°C for freezers.
Basic safety practices include thorough handwashing before food preparation and never using utensils that have touched raw meat, seafood, or unwashed vegetables for cooked food or salads.
When buying meat, consumers should verify products are kept in refrigerated displays. Less perishable items should be purchased first, followed by more perishable products like meat, poultry, fish, and dairy.
For lamb and goat meat traditionally consumed at Easter, each carcass must have an inspection stamp. The services advise against washing raw meat, especially poultry, to prevent spreading bacteria.
For cheese purchases, particularly halloumi and flaouna cheese used in traditional Easter pastries, consumers should check storage conditions and expiration dates. During flaouna preparation, cheese should not be left at room temperature for more than 30 minutes before baking.
When buying eggs, consumers should check quality category, weight classification, and expiration date. Eggs should be stored in a cool place, preferably in the refrigerator, and only intact eggs should be dyed for Easter traditions.
After the traditional egg-cracking custom, eggs should be consumed promptly, though intact boiled eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Read more:
