What food handling practices should consumers follow on a day-to-day basis to help prevent foodborne illness?
Consumers can protect themselves by following basic safe food handling practices: • Wash all raw food products such as fruits and vegetables before eating them to help eliminate bacteria that may be on the food. • Wash hands, cutting boards, knives and utensils in hot, soapy water before and after handling each raw food item and before touching another food or a surface that will come into contact with food. This will prevent bacteria from spreading and contaminating other food. • Separate raw foods such as meat, poultry and seafood from foods that are ready-to-eat. • Cook foods thoroughly to kill harmful bacteria that may be present. • Refrigerate foods promptly. Cold temperatures keep most harmful bacteria from growing and multiplying. Where can I get more information about food safety? For more information about food safety, call FDAs toll free consumer information line at 1-888-SAFEFOOD, or visit the World Wide Web at www.foodsafety.gov.
