Food Safety Tips |

Food Safety Tips

| By Jack | Category: Safety

Food safety is an extremely important issue whether you’re at home, working in the kitchen of a restaurant, or in a supermarket. Badly prepared food can contain bacteria which causes severe illness such salmonella, so it’s absolutely essential that anyone handling food should be aware of food hygiene, and the necessity to keep all areas clean and germ free.

In the supermarket always check the expiration date on the label and don’t buy any food that has already gone past that date. Make sure when buying fish, meat or poultry that it looks and smells all right. Never buy any of these items if they have a strange odor or look wrong to you.

Food Safety Prevents Illness

When you get home keep all fish, meat and poultry separate from fresh fruit and vegetables, and check eggs to ensure they’re not cracked.

The skins of any fruit purchased should be intact, as bacteria can enter through broken skin.

Any perishable food should be refrigerated immediately, and if it’s not to be used within two days, then it should be immediately placed in the freezer.

Wash your hands both before and after handling foods, and ensure that the preparation area is always kept scrupulously clean and free of debris.

There are basic rules in food safety which should always be followed. Cooked food should never be put next to uncooked food, and meat, fish and poultry should be kept in plastic bags or containers where their juices cannot contaminate other foods.

Frozen food should always be thawed thoroughly in a refrigerator before cooking. Some foods can be cooked from frozen, and this will be clearly indicated on the wrapping.

Using an approved cooking thermometer, ensure meats and poultry have been cooked to their required minimum internal temperature.

Always clean your cooking utensils in very hot water and store them in a clean environment. Never prepare food in an area that has not been cleaned first.

Food hygiene is essential for public safety, both at home and dining out, if we’re to avoid contamination which can result in illness and even death.