So far, no case of food poisoning caused by high outdoor temperatures has been reported, but the competent institutions have already sent the first preventive recommendations for food storage and protection of citizens. Although such advice is given every year, Macedonian consumers do not give up on buying perishable food outdoors (read in the markets), where without exaggeration the hygiene and health standards are not respected.

- Do not buy and consume food with damaged packaging (crushed, puffed or cracked), chilled or frozen products to be bought at the end of shopping, and perishable foods such as meat, milk, eggs and other products, after shopping to not stored for long periods in cars and other means of transport. Do not buy chilled or frozen perishable food stored out of the refrigerator or freezer - appealed from the Food and Veterinary Agency.

Experts, as always, warn both producers and traders to provide conditions for transport and storage of food products. The FVA reminds the citizens to buy food from checked places, where the products, especially perishable ones of animal origin, are stored in refrigeration devices.

- In the refrigerators the food should be stored at a temperature lower than 5 degrees Celsius, and if it is eaten in catering facilities, care should be taken to be food operators who take care of hygiene and safety and have a good reputation. Avoid using non-refrigerated additives in fast food establishments such as mayonnaise, ketchup, cream salads, sauces, dressings and the like. - added by the FVA.

As one of the most cited, milk and dairy producers say that providing high quality starts from receiving raw milk from farms, through distribution, to their proper storage and storage in direct points of sale.

- This is especially important for sour-milk products such as yogurt, sour milk, sour cream and other products of this type, which are temperature sensitive and for which it is mandatory, in the whole process of production, distribution, sale, until the end refrigerated accommodation in households, to be stored in specific conditions. This process is called cold chain, and the controlled optimal temperature of the whole chain is from 2 to 8 degrees - explains Gjorgji Petrushev, President of the Group for production, purchase and processing of milk at the Economic Chamber of Macedonia.

The Consumer Protection Organization is constantly running campaigns to inform consumers about their role in the process - from buying in the markets to home storage.

- There are situations in which the rules for proper storage of products in markets or other points of sale are not respected, sometimes by distributors, sometimes by sellers and even by consumers. - adds Petrushev.

Operators are in charge of food safety

The primary responsibility for food safety lies with food business operators, and it should be provided throughout the production chain, up to processing and distribution. They are obliged to ensure the maintenance of the cold chain, especially for frozen food. Finally and no less important is to ensure that imported food meets at least the same hygiene standards meets at least the same standards as food produced in the country, prescribes the Law on Food Safety.

CCM: Workers must be protected from the heat wave

The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia asks the Government to adopt measures to protect the lives and health of workers and citizens because, as they say, according to the announcement of the Hydrometeorological Administration (HMA) in the coming days the weather will be very hot with above average temperatures for this time of year, and the maximum temperature will reach 40 degrees.

- In order to deal with the announced high temperatures, we ask the employers to respect the marks for safety and health at work, to reduce and exclude the outdoor work for the workers in the hottest parts of the day, as well as to provide all means and measures to protect the life and health of workers in these conditions. It is of particular importance to establish appropriate measures to protect the health and life of adults, chronically ill and pregnant workers, and if this right is not respected, all workers are invited to report to their union representative, the representative of workers for OSH and the State Inspectorate for labor - warn from CCM.