How to choose safe and really tasty shawarma: experts advise

Shawarma is always very tasty and satisfying. But it is after eating such food that many people get poisoned. Therefore, to avoid this unpleasant situation, take the following tips into account.

Famous Ukrainian TV presenter Kostyantyn Grubych asked culinary experts and scientists how to choose a truly safe shawarma. He published the material on his Facebook page.

Bohdana Leonova, Ph.D. in Technical Sciences, notes that cases of poisoning occur because shawarma is not prepared in industrial production conditions. First of all, it's hygiene, that is, when you stand at a bus stop, what do you think of that kiosk, does it fully comply with all hygiene rules, what is the situation with the sewage system, does it have a permit for food production, because this is very, very serious.

Alik Mkrtchyan, a culinary expert and brand chef at a shawarma chain, told us what you should pay attention to first. And it is the point of sale: whether the employees comply with the norms and standards, whether there are normal conditions for the cook to wash his hands, and what is the condition of the grill on which the chicken is fried.

If the sanitary condition of the shawarma outlet doesn't scare you, then the next risk factor is undercooked meat. If you eat basic, undercooked meat, you have a risk of contracting bacteria such as salmonella or listeria. There is no guarantee that the person preparing the shawarma checks the temperature of the meat inside with a thermometer. Bohdana Leonova, Ph.D. in Engineering, emphasized this point.

Also, pay attention to the quality of the meat. If it's chicken, you should see chicken meat, not spice-laden biomass. Perhaps the marinade hides low-quality raw materials. Pay attention to what kind of chicken it is, whether it is stuffed with spices and marinades. Because this is very important. The taste of the meat is an indicator that the shawarma or doner is of a very high standard.

Don't overuse sauces. At the very least, the sauce contains sugar, which is not good. Even if you want to know the full composition of the sauce, you are unlikely to be able to do so at a shawarma stall.