The recent cases of intoxication recorded in Sardinia and Calabria offer us the starting point to dispel another false myth on the botulinum, concerning the boiling of the containers: among the most rooted beliefs there is that which boiling the empty jars for ten minutes guarantees the safety of the final product. Nothing more wrong.
A widespread but ineffective practice
The boiling of empty containers is a consolidated practice of Italian kitchens, an operation that certainly has its usefulness: it cleans the jars and removes both dust and residues. The point is that alone is not enough and stopping here would mean ignoring the real problem.
The Clostridium botulinumbacterium responsible for botulism, produces extremely resistant spores, capable of surviving at temperatures that reach 100 degrees centigrade. The spores can also resist long boiling processes and sprout when they find the ideal conditions: absence of oxygen, pH greater than 4.6 and room temperature.
The danger lurks in food
The main problem does not concern the containers, but the foods themselves. The vegetables in oil, the little acidic sauces, the preserves of meat and fish are the ideal soil for the development of the bacterium: once sealed in the jars, these products create the perfect anaerobic environment for the proliferation of the clostridium.
The Higher Institute of Health clarifies that the sterilization of empty jars is only used for the hygiene of the containers. The real sanitization must take place after filling, through adequate thermal processes that affect the entire content of the jar.
The correct procedures to follow
To ensure the safety of domestic preserves, specific thermal treatments must be applied.
Prevention passes from knowledge
Botulism remains a serious, potentially fatal disease, which requires immediate medical intervention.
Before preparing home preserves, it is essential to document yourself through reliable sources. The Higher Institute of Health and the Veronesi Foundation provide detailed guidelines for the safe preparation of domestic preserves. Following these indications means protecting your own health and loved ones, without sacrificing the pleasure of homemade preparations.
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