TIPS TO SAFER FOOD
Good hygiene practices can contribute towards preventing food poisoning. Every one must take part in ensuring food safety by following simple safety practices :
- Buy food from a clean and reputable shop. Do not buy chilled food that is displayed at room temperature.
- Read labels carefully. Do not buy food beyond expiry date.
- Select fresh and wholesome foods. Do not choose dented, bolted, blown or rusty canned food.
- Wash your hands with soap and water before handling and preparing food and after using the toilet.
- Wash and sanitize all surface and equipment used for food preparation.
- Wash dish clothes and towels frequently or use disposable towels.
- Keep your kitchen clean and protect from insects, pets and other animals.
- Keep raw food separately from cooked foods.
- Wash knives and chopping boards between uses.
- Use separate chopping boards for raw and cooked food.
- Store food in covered containers to prevents cross contamination between raw and cooked food.
- When cooking meat and poultry, make sure it is well-cooked and not pink.
- Cook them at higher temperature.
- If food requires reheating, cooked it thoroughly.
- Hot food should be served hot,cold food should be served cold.
- Keep cooked food piping hot prior to serving.
- Refrigerate promptly all cooked and perishable food.
- Do not leave cooked food at room temperature for mor than 2 hours.
- Do not store food too long even in the refrigerator.
- Do not thaw frozen food at room temperature.
- Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight, or use the microwave oven.
- Do not leave marinated food at room temperature.
- Keep them in a covered bowl in the refrigerator.
