Wiafe Mabel Afranewaa

On June 10, 2023, I participated in my first community service in Takoradi. My topic for the day was the proper treatment of vegetables for salads to prevent food poisoning. I visited three locations: the food vendors around Takoradi Technical University (TTU), the food vendors at Takoradi Market Circle, and finally, the Takoradi Accra station:

​During my visits, I educated the vendors on the correct methods of washing vegetables for salads and the ideal conditions for serving salads. The choice of this topic was motivated by the fact that raw vegetables are used in salad preparation, and if not washed properly, they can pose health risks as they are consumed uncooked. It is crucial to wash vegetables under clean running water to remove pesticides effectively. For example, lettuce requires thorough washing to eliminate dirt and pesticides since it is consumed raw. Cabbage also needs special treatment due to the chemicals used on them. After washing the cabbage under clean running water, the outer two layers should be removed, followed by finely cutting it and soaking it in water with vinegar for a few minutes before rinsing it with clean water. All vegetables should be cleaned with clean napkins or papertowels before being prepared for the salad. The community service experience was enjoyable and educational, and the vendors were enthusiastic about the knowledge shared. Thank you.