Tips On How To Avoid Food Poisoning
Check Out These 4 Key Rules to Food Safety
Food poisoning sends more than 100,000 Americans and Canadians to hospital emergency rooms every year. As if that wasn’t bad enough, it can have long term health consequences for some victims.
And, of course, it can hit your pocket if a guest happens to have suffered their poisoning as a result of your cooking and decides to make you pay for it!
September is actually Food Safety Month, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to run through a few basics about food hygiene that should help keep you, your family and guests out of trouble (and out of the emergency room).
In fact, there are just four simple rules that govern most food preparation and storage activities:
- Clean: Wash surfaces often; wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and running water; wash surfaces and utensils after every use; wash fruits and vegetables but not meat or eggs. Bagged produce marked “pre-washed” doesn’t need a further washing.
- Separate: To avoid cross-contamination use separate cutting boards and plates for produce and for meats/seafood/eggs; keep meat, poultry, seafood and eggs separate from all other foods at the supermarket and in the fridge
- Cook: Use a thermometer to cook foods to the correct temperature (check here for a chart of minimum temperatures: https://tinyurl.com/foodsafe-temps); keep food hot, at 140F, after cooking; microwave food thoroughly to 165F or higher to kill harmful bacteria.
- Chill: Refrigerate perishable food within two hours (one hour if the surrounding temperature is about 90F); never thaw or marinate foods on the counter; know when to throw out leftovers and other refrigerated and frozen foods (see this storage chart: https://tinyurl.com/foodsafe-storage)
I hope you find these basic tips useful. And if you’d like to know more about Food Safety Month, visit foodsafetymonth.com.
Another useful site for more tips and information on what to do in an emergency can be found at foodsafety.gov
And, if the worst happens, are you protected against potential medical and compensation costs if a guest falls victim? Answer: Mostly yes if you have comprehensive homeowners Insurance or renters insurance.
But why not check in with me when you have a moment so we can quickly review your insurance coverage or answer any other insurance questions you have?
Huff Insurance is a full service Independent Insurance Agent We have been dedicated to Protecting Lifestyles™ since 1960. We offer a full array of Personal Insurance, Commercial Insurance and Life Insurance & Health Insurance products. Call us at 410-647-111
