CQUniversity lecturer Sandrine Makiela has contributed to a Meals on Wheels Queensland training video providing tips on safe food delivery.

She is shown in the video doing laboratory tests on microbial levels in a chicken meal left at room temperature for an hour, compared with those in a refrigerated meal.

Sandrine Makiela features in the new Meals on Wheels food safety video

Sandrine explains that meals not kept below 4 degrees or above 60 degrees can reach unsafe levels for microorganisms within as little as 20 minutes.  When there is chicken or fish involved, there is a specific risk of salmonella poisoning and diners maybe susceptible to vomiting and diarrhoea and other serious health risks.

The Meals on Wheels video by Mad Dog Productions includes storage, transport and delivery tips.

"I was approached by Karen Butler, the Regional Support Officer (Central) for Meals on Wheels," Sandrine said.

"She was planning a training video for new and existing volunteers, and needed someone with microbiology credentials to take part in the video, as a volunteer, to explain the importance of proper food handling.

"The training video will be used by all Meals on Wheels volunteers throughout Queensland.  It emphasises the proper handling of meals (keeping them at the right temperature, not leaving them unattended on the doorstep), and the dangers of not following these protocols (the potential to cause disease).

"Karen provided me with two identical meals for microbial testing.  One was kept in the fridge, the other at room temperature for one hour.  I performed a microbial analysis on both of these.  I then took part in the actual video in our microbiology laboratory.  

"On camera, I had to answer questions on the importance of keeping food at the correct temperature and talk about the dangers of not doing so.  I also presented the results of the microbial analysis and was filmed performing the actual tests."