The world has finally welcomed the New Year 2026, which means big celebrations, packed homes, and tables overflowing with food. The party might be over, but the leftovers sitting in your fridge could pose a serious health risk if you do not handle them properly. Dr Samuel Choudhury, a general practitioner based in Singapore, has emphasised the importance of handling leftovers from the New Year’s party with care.
Handle leftovers with care
Leftovers can pose a serious health risk if they are not handled properly. Dr Choudhury recalled a time when improperly handled leftover food killed three people. “How leftover food claimed the lives of three people. And where this took place is shocking. Our story starts in 2010, when some chickens were cooked, were not consumed, were stored in deep pans, and were placed in the fridge. The next day, the chickens were used to prepare sandwiches. That was when Trachyctes struck.“Fifty-four people got food poisoning, and it did not end there. Despite being hospitalised, three people lost their lives. And if you’re like, how did this happen? They did not obey the rules of safe food storage,” he said.
Four tips to prevent food poisoning from leftovers
While reheating leftovers from the New Year’s party may seem harmless, improper storage and handling can lead to serious food poisoning and, in rare cases, even death. Dr Choudhury has shared four tips to stay safe.Minimise time in the danger zone: “Minimise the time your food spends in the danger zone,” the doctor said. This means cooked food should not remain at room temperature for extended periods.Cool properly: “The key is rapid cooling. Drop to 21 within two hours and drop to five within four hours. Total max six hours. Cooling food rapidly does not mean that you put it directly into the fridge. These are safe ways to cool food, which they completely ignored. They used deep pans and covered them. This traps heat for long periods of time,” he said.Eat once out of the fridge: Avoid taking food out of the fridge and putting it back repeatedly. “Once out of the fridge, consume or throw. They took the food in and out of the fridge three times,” the doctor said.Know the higher-risk foods: “Certain foods are at higher risk than others. In general, food with low water content will pose a lower risk. Things like meat, pasta, and rice, wet forms of dairy, are all higher-risk foods,” Dr Choudhury said.Most people think that food poisoning is not that serious and is always treatable. Dr Choudhury reminded readers that this is a dangerous assumption. “But I know a lot of people will be like, this will not happen to me. I will go to the hospital early. The shocker is, this story took place in a hospital. Even with close medical supervision, they did not stand a chance,” the doctor said.These are simple tips you can follow to avoid food poisoning or other illnesses, stay safe, and enjoy the New Year without any hospital visits.Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new medication or treatment, or before changing your diet or supplement regimen.
