Food Safety Education
Learn how to handle, prepare, and store food safely to prevent foodborne illness and keep your family healthy.
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Four Steps to Food Safety
Clean
- •Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and water before, during, and after preparing food
- •Wash utensils, cutting boards, and countertops with hot, soapy water
- •Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under running water
Separate
- •Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry, seafood, and produce
- •Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs separate from ready-to-eat foods
- •Use separate plates and utensils for cooked and raw foods
Cook
- •Use a food thermometer to ensure foods are cooked to a safe internal temperature
- •Keep hot food hot (140°F or above) after cooking
- •Microwave food thoroughly to 165°F
Chill
- •Refrigerate perishable food within 2 hours (1 hour if temperature is above 90°F)
- •Keep your refrigerator at 40°F or below and freezer at 0°F or below
- •Thaw frozen food safely in the refrigerator, cold water, or microwave
Food Safety Articles
Kitchen Safety
Preventing Cross-Contamination
Learn how to prevent the spread of bacteria between foods in your kitchen.
Cooking
Safe Cooking Temperatures
Ensure your food is cooked to the right temperature to kill harmful bacteria.
Health
Common Foodborne Illnesses
Recognize the symptoms and causes of common foodborne illnesses.
Storage
Proper Food Storage
Tips for storing different types of food to maximize freshness and safety.
Emergency
Food Safety During Emergencies
How to keep food safe during power outages and natural disasters.
Shopping
Food Safety While Shopping
What to look for when buying food and how to transport it safely.
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Food Safety During Emergencies
Learn how to keep food safe during power outages, natural disasters, and other emergency situations.
Emergency Food Safety GuideAdditional Resources
FDA Food Safety
Official food safety information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
USDA Food Safety
Resources from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service
CDC Food Safety
Information on foodborne illnesses and prevention from the Centers for Disease Control
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