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.
Printable Tip Sheets
Kitchen and Food Safety
Know Who to Trust for Reliable Health Information
Learn to identify trustworthy sources for important health and wellness information.
Understanding Food Package Dates
Are we throwing food away unnecessarily? Perhaps. If you use the dates stamped on food products as your guide, you might need to revisit your strategy. So, what do those numbers mean? Learn more.
Easy Steps to Freezing Foods
Freezing is one of the easiest ways to store food for extended periods. Learn how to do it properly.
Use Microwaves Safely
Microwaves are a great way to save time and energy while preserving your favorite foods’ flavor and key nutrients. To make great tasting foods using your microwave, follow these tips.
Carry Out Meal Safety
When it comes to food safety with takeout or grab-and-go meals, focus on three steps to keeping food safe: Clean, Cook, and Chill. Learn to do it correctly.
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.