The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FFSAI) issued a document instructing that proper cooked meat and eggs are safer for consumption as it inactivates the bird flu virus present in it.

In a bid to create awareness among food business operators (FBOs) and consumers, the document released read that, "Safe handling, processing and consumption of poultry meat and eggs during bird flu pandemic".

FSSAI has recommended that due to the outbreak of the avian influenza raw or undercooked poultry meat and eggs should not be consumed.

"However, to date, no evidence indicates that anyone has become infected following the consumption of properly cooked poultry or poultry products, even if these foods".

The virus is destroyed at a temperature of 70-degree Celsius if held for about three seconds, it further read.

The major Do's and Don'ts suggested are —

• Do not eat half-boiled eggs
• Do not eat undercooked chicken
• Avoid direct contact with birds in the infected areas
• Avoid touching dead birds with bare hands
• Do not keep raw meat in the open
• No direct contact with raw meat
• Use mask and gloves at the time of handling raw chicken
• Wash hands frequently
• Maintain the cleanliness of surroundings and eat chicken, eggs and their products after cooking.