Food safety
Food can become contaminated with bacteria and viruses which can result in food poisoning. This is more of a risk in commercial kitchens where large quantities of food are produced. However food poisoning can occur at home. The following tips will help to prevent food poisoning and ensure food is safe to eat.
- Wash hands and nails thoroughly with soap before handling food. Teach children to wash their hands before eating.
- Keep the kitchen clean – keep all surfaces clean and avoid having animals in the kitchen area.
- Avoid handling food when you are sick.
- Keep raw food separate from cooked food and use separate chopping boards and equipment.
- Wash all fruit and vegetables that are going to be eaten raw or unpeeled.
- Cook the following food thoroughly: chicken, seafood, stuffed meat, rolled roasts, sausages, burger patties and mince.
- If you cook food, keep it hot until served.
- If you are chilling cooked food, do so as quickly as possible.
- Reheat food as quickly as possible.
- Always follow package directions when reheating food.
- Keep cold food at 5oC or less.
- Refrigerate cold food as soon as possible after purchasing.
- Thaw food in the fridge or microwave. Avoid leaving it sitting on the kitchen bench.
