Hey guys, I’m in early pregnancy and visiting family overseas. This is not in Africa btw but in the USA. I’m shocked to see like 4-5 different stews with meat that have been sitting on the table at room temp for days- like since before we arrived they were there and we ate some over two days but after that I couldn’t even think about it. It’s still there now.
After 2 hours at room temp doesn’t bacteria and food spoilage amplify? I remember my mum used to leave things like doro wot on the stove but heating and reheating repeatedly - isn’t that a food safety violation? It doesn’t help that I have nausea from pregnancy too. The other day someone cooked fish and it was just left on the table all day and all night. Unfortunately my nausea is driving me nuts.
Is this normal, do people not get sick? I always try and follow food storage protocols, proper refrigeration- only reheating the portions I’m eating etc. just curious to know others experiences with this sort of things. My family is reheating the same chicken that was sat on the table literally a week ago and the place stinks like spoilage and bacteria. I have a small child with me too (2-3 years old) who I am going to refuse this food for him. I love Ethiopian food but I don’t love E. Coli and Salmonella, nor Listeriosis.
EDIT: I forgot to add my cousin who ate some recently was up vomiting all night and he said it’s from the spice / berbere. I was like …