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Food Safety at Home: Key Tips for Healthy Eating

By Aastha Khungar in Dietetics , Nutrition And Dietetics

Jun 14 , 2024 | 1 min read

Maintaining food safety at home is essential for preventing foodborne illnesses and improving the health of your family. Here are some essential tips to help you keep your kitchen and food safe.

Proper storehouse: Instantly store perishable foods in the refrigerator or freezer. Keep your fridge below 40 °F (4 °C) and your freezer at 0 °F (-18 °C). Use watertight holders to store leftovers and ensure they're consumed within a few days. Labelling your holders with dates can help keep track of newness.
Safe cuisine temperatures: Cooking food to the right temperature kills dangerous bacteria. Use a food thermometer to check that the flesh reaches a safe internal temperature of 165 °F (74 °C), 160 °F (71 °C) for ground meat, and 145 °F (63 °C) for whole beef and pork.
Hygiene Practices: Good hygiene is essential for food safety. Always wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food. Clean and sanitise kitchen tools and equipment after each use, especially when handling raw meat, flesh, and seafood.
Avoid cross-contamination: Use separate slice boards for raw flesh and vegetables. Keep raw flesh separate from other foods in your grocery drawer and refrigerator. This helps prevent the spread of dangerous bacteria from raw to ready-to-eat foods.
Be aware of expiration dates: Regularly check the expiration dates on food packages. While some foods may be safe to eat after their best-before date, others can spoil and pose a threat. When in doubt, throw it away.

By following these essential food safety tips, you can reduce the threat of foodborne illnesses and keep your kitchen a safe place.