Limiting Your Food Safety Risks
Limiting Your Food Safety Risks is very important in your establishment. Foodborne illness is a serious problem that can cause illness, hospitalization, and even death. There are many things you can do to limit your risk of foodborne illness, however.
Here are some tips:
- Wash your hands often and thoroughly: This is the single most important thing you can do to prevent foodborne illness. Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before, during, and after handling food.
- Washing your hands
- Separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood from other foods: These foods can contain harmful bacteria that can contaminate other foods if they are not properly separated. Keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood in their own containers or on separate shelves in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Separating raw meat, poultry, and seafood
- Cook food to the correct internal temperature: This will kill harmful bacteria that may be present in the food. Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of food to make sure it is cooked to the correct temperature.
- Cooking food to the correct internal temperature
- Chill food promptly: Refrigerate or freeze food promptly after cooking or buying it. This will help to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
More tips for Limiting Your Food Safety Risks:
- Chilling food promptly
- Do not eat food that has been left out for more than two hours: If food has been left out for more than two hours, it is best to throw it away. This is because harmful bacteria can start to grow in food that has been left out for too long.
- Do not eat food that has been left out
- Be careful when handling food: Avoid cross-contamination by not using the same utensils, plates, or cutting boards for raw meat, poultry, and seafood as you do for other foods.
- Be careful when handling food
- Store food properly: Store food at the correct temperature in the refrigerator or freezer. This will help to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
- Storing food properly
By following these tips, you can help to limit your risk of foodborne illness and keep yourself and your family safe.
Additional tips:
- Read food labels carefully: Make sure to read food labels carefully to see how the food should be stored and cooked.
- Trust your senses: If food looks, smells, or tastes off, don’t eat it.
- Be aware of food recalls: Food recalls are issued when there is a potential health risk associated with a food product. You can alsofind information about food recalls on the FDA website.
By following these tips, you can help to keep yourself and your family safe from foodborne illness.