Each food product has its own state of preservation, and the state and duration of preservation may differ from what is written on the product after opening or cooking. Therefore, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) calls for not mixing surplus foods from Suhoor and Iftar tables with different or surplus foods from different days to avoid exposure to food contamination.

SFDA stresses the need to avoid food waste when preparing food or shopping, by writing a specific list of the most important purchases, checking the expiration date of foods and their consumption before their expiry and starting with the oldest and then the latest, and not paying attention to discount offers by buying a large amount of foods which you may not need, in addition to avoiding buying in case you are hungry so you do not buy more foods than you need.

It advised to get rid of the excess of foods that were touched with hands, because they are often subject to food contamination. As for foods and ready-to-eat meals that have not been touched by hand, it is recommended to divide them and put them in small, shallow containers, cover them tightly, and then cool them directly.

SFDA warned that caution should be taken when reheating foods and preserved foods prepared for consumption (chilled or frozen), as they must be heated to a temperature of not less than 75°C before eating them.

It is advised to put the surplus of iftar or suhoor in a high place in the refrigerator to avoid contamination as a result of falling parts or leakage of liquids from fresh foods such as meat.

It must also be ensured that the sensory characteristics of the food (taste, color and smell) are not changed in the previously prepared food, and in the event of a change, the food becomes unfit for consumption and must be disposed of directly.