Food Safety Tips

  • It’s important to refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared foods and leftovers within two hours or less. Keeping food cold (at or below 4°C/40°F) slows down bacterial growth.
  • It’s not safe to defrost food at room temperature. The best way to defrost food is to thaw it in a covered container on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
  • To help reduce the risk of foodborne illness, wash hands before and after handling raw meat and fish, after using the washroom,  after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, after touching pets and after changing diapers.
  • To wash your hands properly, you must wash them for at least 20 seconds using soap and warm water and by rubbing your hands together.

 Five Keys to Safer Food

Keep clean

  • Wash your hands before handling food and often during food preparation
  • Wash your hands after going to the toilet
  • Wash and sanitize all surfaces and equipment used for food preparation
  • Protect kitchen areas and food from insects, pests, and other animals

Separate raw and cooked

  • Separate raw meat, poultry and seafood from other foods.
  • Use separate equipment and utensils such as knives and cutting boards for handling raw foods.
  • Store food in containers to avoid contact between raw and prepared foods

Cook thoroughly

  • Cook food thoroughly, especially meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood
  • Bring foods like soups and stews to boiling to make sure that they have reached 70°C.
  • Reheat cooked food thoroughly

Keep food at safe temperatures

  • Do not leave cooked food at room temperature for more than 2 hours
  • Refrigerate promptly all cooked and perishable food (preferably below 5°C)
  • Keep cooked food piping hot (more than 60°C) prior to serving
  • Do not store food too long even in the refrigerator
  • Do not thaw frozen food at room temperature

Use safe water and raw materials

  • Use safe water or treat it to make it safe
  • Select fresh and wholesome foods
  • Choose foods processed for safety, such as pasteurized milk
  • Wash fruits and vegetables, especially if eaten raw
  • Do not use food beyond its expiry date