What safe food handling practices can help prevent food poisoning?
Everyone should be careful to avoid contamination when handling and preparing food, and this is especially important for pregnant women. The FDA recommends that individuals wash their hands with hot soapy water before and after handling food. Also wash cutting boards, other work surfaces and utensils with soap and hot water after contact with raw meat, poultry or fish. These foods should always be kept separate from cooked or ready-to-eat foods. Always wash fruits and vegetables with warm water before eating, and remove surface dirt with a scrub brush. Refrigerate any leftovers promptly, and never eat cooked food that has been out of the refrigerator longer than two hours. Make sure the temperature in your refrigerator is 40 F. or below, and the freezer 0 F. or below, to slow the growth of bacteria.
