Ahead of the Chuseok holiday, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety issued guidelines on grocery shopping, food storage and cooking to prevent food poisoning. Shoppers should pick up items that can be kept at room temperature first and buy meat and seafood last, the ministry said.
Households often cook large volumes of food at once during the holiday, so care is needed at every stage — from buying ingredients to transporting, storing and cooking them, the ministry said on the 21st.
The recommended shopping order is processed foods and produce and other shelf-stable items first, followed by refrigerated foods, then meat, then seafood. After shopping, consumers should use coolers or ice packs to maintain proper temperatures and avoid leaving chilled or frozen foods at room temperature for long periods.
Frozen food should be cooked immediately after thawing, because refreezing it or leaving it soaking in warm water for an extended time can allow foodborne bacteria to multiply. Hands should be washed thoroughly after handling eggs or raw meat before preparing other ingredients, and separate knives and cutting boards should be used for vegetables and meat where possible. If a single utensil is used, it should be washed each time the ingredient changes.
Heating standards vary by ingredient. Ground meat such as meatballs should be cooked through to the center, while meat and processed meat products such as ham and sausage should be heated to a core temperature of 75 degrees Celsius for at least one minute. Shellfish such as oysters and clams should be cooked to a core temperature of 85 degrees Celsius for at least one minute.
A growing number of households are preparing holiday dishes such as jeon pancakes and braised short ribs using ready-made meals or meal kits. In those cases, consumers should check whether the product has been kept refrigerated or frozen as required and confirm its use-by date. For items bought online, they should also check whether proper temperatures were maintained during delivery.
The ministry said that even though mornings and evenings are cooler around Chuseok, daytime temperatures can still rise, so cooked food should not be left out at room temperature for long. For long trips, such as the return journey after the holiday, it advised using insulated bags or coolers and reheating food thoroughly before eating.
