PREVENTING FOOD CONTAMINATION

Woman cleaning her counter to protect family from food contamination

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Shopping | Storing Food | Kitchen Maintenance

SHOPPING

  • Look at the expiration dates on food packages, cans & other containers
    that tell you how long you'll have to use the product safely
  • Organize your shopping so you select refrigerated & frozen items last
    so they spend less time at room temperature
  • Bring a cold pack or insulated shopping bag specially made for
    keeping foods cold to use instead of regular bags
  • Don't buy pre-washed produce

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DO NOT BUY CANNED PRODUCTS THAT HAVE

  • Dents
  • Bulges
  • Rust
  • Leaks
  • Black inky-like spots

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DO NOT BUY PACKAGED FOODS THAT HAVE

  • Holes
  • Cuts or tears
  • Open corners
  • Broken safety seals

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BUYING RAW MEAT, POULTRY OR FISH

  • Look at the color of the item making sure there are no black spots or greyish tinge
  • Check to see if there are any discolorations (dark or light)
    when buying packaged meats like hot dogs
  • Put raw meat, poultry & fish in plastic bags to keep their juices from dripping
    on other foods in your shopping cart
  • Check that refrigerated foods feel cold & frozen foods feel solid
  • Avoid frozen food packages with ice crystals or discoloration because
    they probably have been thawed & refrozen

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STORING FOOD

DRY GOODS

  • Place your new items behind the older ones so you won't be stuck with expired products
  • Check labels that say food should be stored in the refrigerator after opening

REFRIGERATED FOODS

  • Wipe up spills immediately
  • Remove spoiled foods
  • Put only foods that aren't perishible in the door shelves
    like ketchup, jelly, cranberry juice, wine, etc.
  • Check the refrigerator temperature regularly to make sure it's between
    32 & 40 degrees Farenheit

Always cover foods so they won't dry out with

  • Aluminum foil
  • Plastic wrap
  • Plastic bags
  • Airtight containers

FROZEN FOODS

If possible, store foods in their original packaging

To avoid freezer burn, wrap foods you prepare with

  • Freezer paper
  • Heavy-duty aluminum foil
  • Plastic freezer bags
  • Airtight containers

Label foods you prepare with

  • Name of the food
  • Date frozen
  • Number of servings
  • Check the freezer temperature regularly to make sure it's set at zero degrees Fahrenheit

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KITCHEN MAINTENANCE

CUTTING BOARDS

Cleaning cutting boards with lemon juice

  • Should be acrylic or other non-pourous material
  • Should not have cracks or crevices where bacteria can hide


Label each cutting board for the planned usage

  • Meat
  • Dairy
  • Fish
  • Fruits & Vegetables
  • Onions

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HOW TO CLEAN YOUR ACRYLIC CUTTING BOARDS

You can use 1,2 or all 3 of these methods

  • Soap & wash
  • Spray them with lemon juice before washing
  • Wash them in the dishwasher

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR WOOD CUTTING BOARDS

Everyday Usage

Wash board with a mild soap or a solution of one part vinegar & one part water

Once A Week

  • Sprinkle a layer of Kosher salt over the board
  • Cut a lemon in half & squeeze 1/2 of the lemon over the board
  • Use a scrub brush & scour the board for a few minutes
  • Thoroughly rinse the board with hot water  
  • Make sure the board dries in an upright position

Every Few Months

  • Oil it with beeswax, walnut oil or almond oil
  • This prevents the board from cracking

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COUNTERS

  • Wash the counter with a sponge collecting all visible food particles
  • Spray the counter with a anti-bacterial product & wipe it dry with a clean cloth
  • Use a different cloth & wipe the counter clean with hot water
  • If food spills out onto the counter, throw it away
  • Do NOT eat food, vitamins or medicine if they've been in contact with a counter

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SPONGES

  • Put your sponges in the microwave oven for 1 minute each or in the dishwasher to kill
    bacteria that might collect on them
  • Throw out your sponge when it begins to shred

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STOVE TOP

  • If you are cooking & food spills over onto the stove top, throw the food away
  • Do NOT put it back in the pan or pot
  • After cleaning the major stains off the stovetop use the same process
    as detailed for counters (above)

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More pages about Food Contamination
When To Call The Doctor | Thawing Meats & Poultry Safely | Top 10 Risky Foods

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More pages on Kitchen Safety
Gas Stoves | Microwave Safe | Plastic Safety

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