What can I do to keep myself safe from food-borne illnesses?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:You can help avoid food-borne illnesses completely by practicing these 3 food safety tips:
Food safety at the beach
Practice LIFO: Last in, first out. In other words, pack your cooler with what you're going to eat first on top.
Bury your cooler or lunch bag partway in the sand and shade it with an umbrella.Food safety in the kitchen
Wash hands thoroughly with warm soapy water for 20 seconds before and after food preparation.
Wrap meats in protective coverings like butcher paper or plastic wrap and place on a low shelf in the fridge to prevent cross-contamination.
Allocate separate color-coded cutting boards for meat, salads, etc.Food safety on the grill
Use a meat thermometer with a sensor at the tip so you get an accurate reading inside the meat.
Cook beef to 160 degrees; cook chicken to at least 165 degrees until juices run clear.You can help avoid food-borne illnesses completely by practicing these 3 food safety tips: Food safety at the beach Practice LIFO: Last in, first out. In other words, pack your cooler with what you're going to eat first on top. Bury... More -
Deborah Beauvais of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics answered:Washing our hands and being sure that we safely handle and store the foods we eat is important to keep yourself safe from food borne illnesses but often times what may get over looked is the food surfaces in our homes.
Don't Forget ...
- Keep kitchen surfaces such as appliances, countertops, cutting boards and utensils clean with hot, soapy water.
- A smelly dishcloth, towel or sponge is a sure sign that unsafe bacterial growth is lurking nearby. Bacteria live and grow in damp conditions.
- Wash dishcloths and towels often in the hot cycle of your washing machine.
- Disinfect sponges in a chlorine bleach solution.
- Replace worn sponges frequently.
Washing our hands and being sure that we safely handle and store the foods we eat is important to keep yourself safe from food borne illnesses but often times what may get over looked is the food surfaces in our homes. Don't Forget ... Keep kitchen... More -
Ms. Vandana Sheth of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics answered:Take a look at these videos to help keep you safe from food-borne illnesses and also visit foodsafety.org for additional tips to prevent food-borne illnesses.
Four simple steps to keep you safe in your family kitchen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvtkbPBrH4I
Summer Produce tips to prevent food-borne illnesses
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=QB35adOezro&feature=mh_lolz&list=FLSmUIt1qfSfY
Take a look at these videos to help keep you safe from food-borne illnesses and also visit foodsafety.org for additional tips to prevent food-borne illnesses. Four simple steps to keep you safe in your family kitchen... More -
There are several things you can do to help protect yourself from food-borne illnesses. Practicing safe food-handling techniques is key. Important points to remember when preparing food at home are to maintain clean practices from the start. Clean utensils, cutting boards, countertops, and hands after preparing raw meat or poultry and prior to preparing other items. Thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables. Once raw meat and poultry are prepared, it is important to cook them thoroughly; an internal thermometer is an excellent way to monitor this. Another important point is to properly store the food. Whether you are done with dinner and need to store leftovers or at a picnic in summer, food needs to be kept chilled, as bacteria that causes food-borne illness tends to grow at room temperature. Lastly, when dining out, it is important to report suspected food-borne illnesses to your local health department.
There are several things you can do to help protect yourself from food-borne illnesses. Practicing safe food-handling techniques is key. Important points to remember when preparing food at home are to maintain clean practices from the start.... More
