Do and don'ts of Food Safety and Hygiene

Food Safety and Hygiene are important to protect public health, comply with regulations, ensure customer satisfaction, achieve cost savings, and protect the environment.

Practicing these recommendations can put you on the path to prevent foodborne illness, also known as “food poisoning.” 

Do

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before preparing food.
• Rinse whole fruits and vegetables under running water and dry with a clean cloth, paper towel or use a salad spinner.
• Wash utensils that have touched uncooked, meat, poultry, seafood, eggs or flour before using them with any food that will be eaten raw.
• Clean cooking surfaces and utensils with hot, soapy water after each use
• Cook meat, poultry, and seafood to a safe minimum internal temperature. Check the USDA’s website for these recommended temperatures.
• Do keep meat, poultry, and seafood warm (140°F or above) between cooking and serving.
• If you don’t have one, purchase a food thermometer.
• Set refrigerator temperatures to 40°F or below and freezer at 0°F or below as indicated by an appliance thermometer.
• If you don’t have one (or two), purchase refrigerator/freezer thermometers.
• Defrost food in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave (if you defrost in the microwave be sure to cook it immediately).
• When shopping, keep produce separate from meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs in your cart and in your grocery bags.
• Be aware of foods that are higher risk than others (examples: rare burgers, undercooked eggs, unpasteurized milk and cheese, unpasteurized juices, and ciders).
• Make safe choices when selecting for and serving foods to those that are more at risk for foodborne illnesses such as children, the elderly, pregnant women, and immune compromised.
• Place meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs in plastic bags at the grocery checkout.
• Wash your reusable grocery bags frequently.
• Always use tested food preservation procedures and the appropriate equipment. 

Don’t

• Don’t wash meat, poultry, seafood, or eggs.
• Don’t use soap or detergent on foods.
• Don’t allow raw meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or flour to touch any food that will be eaten raw.Raw chicken
• Don’t reuse plates or cutting boards that have touched uncooked meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or flour unless you wash them first with hot, soapy water.
• Don’t serve cooked meat, poultry, or seafood without checking the temperature.
• Don’t allow food to cool before refrigerating.
• Don’t let food sit out at room temperature for more than two hours (or one hour in air temperatures above 90°F).
• Don’t overfill your refrigerator or freezer. This will block the airflow and affect the temperatures.Refrigerator with open door
• Don’t place raw meat, poultry, or seafood on the upper shelves of the refrigerator where they can drip onto other foods.
• When shopping, don’t choose meat, poultry, or seafood in damaged or leaking packages.
• Don’t buy eggs with cracked shells or damaged cartons.
• Don’t remove eggs from the carton or keep them on the refrigerator door when storing at home.

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