How to determine if frozen food has gone bad: advice from an infectious disease specialist

Victoria Lazaryuk warned that frozen foods that have been defrosted and frozen multiple times may contain toxic substances such as histamine, which can cause allergic reactions. She noted that defrostedfish and MEAT are quickly subject to the proliferation of harmful microorganisms, and their number increases exponentially during subsequent freezing-thawing cycles.

To determine the freshness of frozen fish and meat, Lazaryuk suggested several methods. She recommends piercing the product with a heated knife and paying attention to the smell: if it is unpleasant, the product is unfit for consumption. She also mentioned the “acrobat test,” in which a defrosted fish is placed in the palm of your hand, and if the HEAD andthe tail hangs down, this may indicate the beginning of the rotting process.

It is important to remember that proper storage and handling of frozen food plays an important role in ensuring food safety and preventing food poisoning.