How to Prepare Food Safely

• The federal government instructs all people to follow four simple guidelines: clean, separate, cook, and chill.

Clean:

• Always wash your hands before, during, and after the preparation of meals.


• Make sure the area you are working on is disinfected before and after food preparation.


• Make sure all fruits and vegetables have been rinsed off.

Separate:

• Always keep produce and meat separate.


• Never use the same chopping block/cutting board for both meat and produce unless disinfected between uses.


• Never eat off of anything that previously held uncooked animal products unless it has been disinfected.

Cook:

• Always use a meat thermometer to ensure that meat has been adequately cooked and no longer contains any bacteria.

Chill:

• Always refrigerate any animal products or other perishables immediately.


• Defrost any frozen items safely by using the microwave, refrigerator, or dethawing in cold water.

• http://www.befoodsafe.org/BFS_BROCHURE_Color.pdf
• http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/qa-topfp.html
• http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~pregnant/pregnant.html