Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Perth District Health Unit
Summer Food Safety Tips to Prevent Foodborne Illness
Summer is on the way and the barbecues are heating up! The Perth District Health Unit is reminding backyard chefs that hot, humid weather means bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella, can grow quickly in food.
“The risk of foodborne illness goes up in the summer,” warns Dan Singleton, Public Health Inspector. In Perth County between 2006 and 2010, there were more than 300 cases of common foodborne illnesses, such as salmonellosis, reported to the Health Unit. “It’s important to prepare food safely so that people don’t get sick,” says Singleton.
Clean:
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after handling food
- Wash dishes, cutting boards and counters with hot soapy water and sanitize using a mild bleach solution (1 tsp bleach per 4 cups of water)
- Always wash raw vegetables and fruits in clean water.
Separate:
- Keep raw foods separate from cooked foods to avoid cross-contamination
- Store raw meat on the bottom of the fridge or cooler to prevent juices from dripping onto other foods
- Use a clean plate to bring cooked meat in from the barbecue.
Cook:
- Kill harmful bacteria by properly cooking food
- Use a food probe thermometer to measure the inside temperature of cooked meats
- Cook all hamburger meat to an internal temperature of 71°C (160°F).
- Cook all poultry pieces to 74°C (165 °F) and whole birds to 82°C (180°F).
Chill:
- Thaw meat in the refrigerator, microwave, or under cold running water – not at room temperature.
- Never let meat or poultry sit out at room temperature or in the sun for more than 2 hours.
- Follow the simple rule: When in doubt, throw it out.
Keep it Healthy!
- Trim visible fat from meat and remove skin from poultry before grilling to reduce fat.
- Cook meat over lower temperatures and flip it often to prevent charring. Barbecued meat, poultry and fish may increase cancer risk when charred at high temperatures and when smoke - created by flare-ups of dripping fat - settles on the food.
- Visit the Health Unit’s Diaries of a Dietitian blog for tips on preparing healthy meals for a family at diariesofadietitian.blogspot.com.
For more Information:
Media Contact:
Rebecca Hill
Communications Manager
519-271-7600 ext 279
rhill@pdhu.on.ca
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