How Can I Prevent Food Poisoning?

Do you wash your hands before and after handling food, or prepared food?

Do you keep your dishes, cutting boards, and kitchen countertops clean?

When cooking, preparing or storing food, do you keep fresh food separate from ready-to-eat food?

Do you cook food at a safe temperature?

Do you use a food thermometer when cooking?

Do you know that perishable food should be frozen or prepared within 2 hours of purchase?

Do you defrost food in the refrigerator or microwave?

Do you avoid thawing food at room temperature?

Do you throw away expired food?

Based on your answers, there are several other ways that can help you prevent food poisoning. Good hygiene is extremely important. You should wash your hands with warm water and soap before and after handling food. Also, your dishes, cutting board and other surfaces you use to prepare food must be clean. When storing food, you should separate raw food such as meat, fish, or shellfish from ready-to-eat food to prevent cross-contamination. In order for food to be cooked properly and safe to eat, it must be cooked at the right temperature, so you can use a food thermometer when cooking.

Based on your answers, you know a lot about how to prevent food poisoning. Frozen food should be thawed safely. Do not leave food to thaw at room temperature. The safest way is to defrost food in the refrigerator. You can also use a microwave to defrost food, after which the food needs to be cooked immediately. Do not eat food if you suspect it is not well prepared, served or stored safely. Also, you should avoid unpasteurized cheese, milk and other dairy products. Don’t eat expired food even though it smells and looks good. Also, do not eat food that has not expired, but smells different.