Food safety dos and don'ts

Americans enjoy one of the safest food supplies in the world thanks to long-standing regulations and oversight by federal and state agencies. Still, estimates show that one in six Americans suffer from a foodborne illness every year. 

Causes vary from improperly canned foods, to undercooked food and products contaminated with dangerous organisms. Fortunately, following some basic food safety tips from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) can help eliminate the possibility of food poisoning.

Tips to help minimize issues that cause food poisoning

DO:

• Put your groceries into the fridge as soon as you get home
• Set the fridge temperature to 40° F or lower, and the freezer to 0° F or lower
• Store produce separately from meat, poultry and eggs in your fridge
• Store eggs in the carton in the main part of your fridge — not in the door
• Defrost foods in the refrigerator or cold water, or use the microwave
• Cook defrosted foods immediately
• Wash your hands in warm soapy water before you start cooking and after handling meat, poultry, seafood and eggs
• Wash utensils used to handle uncooked meat, poultry, seafood, eggs or flour before using them on other products
• Rinse your produce in cool clear water and dry with a paper towel or clean dish cloth (using a colander or salad spinner makes cleaning lettuces and greens easier)
• Wipe your counters down after working with raw meat

DON’T:

• Use eggs that have cracked shells
• Buy meat, poultry or seafood that isn’t well wrapped or has a leaking package
• Thaw seafood, poultry or meat on the counter
• Wash foods with soap or detergents
• Undercook meat, poultry or seafood
  • Here are safe cooking temps from the FDA:
    • Poultry: 165° F
    • Ground meat: 160° F
    • Fish and seafood: 145° F
    • Beef, lamb, pork, veal (roasts, steaks, chops): 145° F
• Store meat, poultry, or seafood on upper shelves in the fridge where they can leak on other food
• Let food sit out for more than two hours or one hour if the air temperature is higher than 90°

Guides from the FDA

Take a look at these handy, printable FDA guides on Food Safe Shopping and Storage and Food Safe Meal Prep.

Mom’s Meals^® can help

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