Food Safety At Home

Food Safety At Home 

Foodborne illnesses are caused by eating food or drinks contaminated by pathogens. The Food and Drug Administration estimates there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illnesses a year. The illness is costly, event life-threatening; yet, it can be prevented with simple steps. Protect your family, whether preparing food at home or when eating out, by taking these simple steps: 

  • Clean: Wash your hands and work surfaces.
  • Separate: Keep your raw food separate from cooked food.
  • Cook: Disease-causing bacteria can grow when food is not cooked to correct internal temperatures.
  • Chill: The danger zone where bacteria can grow is between 40°F and 140°F.

 

Carryout Food Safety
Food Package Dates
Frozen Food Safety
Microwave Safety

We have resources to help you keep food safe.

Safely Receive, Store, and Reheat Carryout Meals
This fact sheet reviews how to receive, store, and reheat takeout, carryout, or pick up meals with food safety in mind. 

Understanding Food Package Dates: Do you keep it or throw it out?
A helpful fact sheet for understanding the difference in sell by, use by, pack, quality assurance, and expiration dates on foods. Spanish

How to Build an Emergency Food Supply
When preparing an emergency food supply use this fact sheet to help reduce stress and ensure you and your family have access to safe and healthful foods

How to Make Your Own Bleach Sanitizer
A how-to guide for making bleach at home. Use this bleach sanitizer to clean surfaces such as tables, counters, floors, doorknobs, toilets, showers, faucets, and sinks. Spanish

Steps for Freezing Food
Learn step-by-step how to freeze food for the best quality, get answers to what should and should not be frozen, and how to thaw safely in a fact sheet. 

What Can I Freeze?
This helpful fact sheet explains how long to keep foods frozen for best quality. 

Using the Microwave Safely
Learn about how to safely use the microwave, what containers should go in the microwave, prevent fires, defrosting food, and getting the best results! 

Check out these food safety websites

Is My Meat Safe to Eat?
Foodborne illness is a serious issue. One in six Americans are hospitalized each year from foodborne disease. 

Food Safety For Consumers
Find out about the latest recalls, food safety tips, information on food storage, cooking temperatures, how to handle food during natural disasters, and other helpful information to prevent foodborne illness.