Food Safety Education Month

September 3, 2024, 2:00 pm

An estimation of 1 in 6 Americans will contract food poisoning this year. Young children, the elderly, those with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to foodborne illnesses.

There are 4 main steps to prevent food poisoning:

Clean – Wash hands, tools, and surfaces properly and often.

Separate – Avoid cross-contamination by keeping raw foods from other foods and clean utensils or surfaces that contact raw foods.

Cook to Proper Temperature – Make sure to cook foods to or above minimum safe temperatures.

Chill – Perishable foods should be refrigerated within 2 hours or within 1 hour if exposed to temperatures above 90 degrees.

It is also important to inform yourself of any food recalls and to be knowledgeable about proper storage times for any leftovers.

Resource:

 4 Steps to Food Safety | FoodSafety.gov