By Shawnte Loeri, Communications Associate, PFSE
Commit to Your Good Health This Year & Beyond
A resolution is a course of action that you have decided on and are determined to complete. For 2022, why not try making some food safety resolutions?
Reducing your household’s risk of food poisoning through proper hand hygiene, safe food handling, and food storage, will pay off with many benefits, including reducing risk of other bacterial or viral diseases.
Now is a great time to commit the entire family to consistent practice of food safety basics:
1. Every safe meal starts with clean hands.
Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before preparing food, and after handling raw meat, flour and eggs. Also, wash hands
after using the bathroom, changing diapers and handling pets. Proper hand hygiene will help ensure the health of you and your family.
2. Handle fresh produce like a pro!
Rinse all your fruits and veggies before eating them. Gently rub fresh fruits and veggies under cold running water just before eating, even if you plan to cut or peel them. Scrub firm-skinned produce with a clean vegetable brush under running water. Bacteria can spread from the outside to the inside during cutting or peeling.
3. Buy (and use) a food thermometer.
Food is safely cooked when it reaches a high enough internal temperature to kill the harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illness. Use a food thermometer to measure the internal temperature of cooked meat, poultry and egg dishes, to make sure that the food is safe to eat.
4. Store food in the fridge safely.
Refrigerate foods quickly because cold temperatures slow the growth of harmful bacteria. Keep a constant refrigerator temperature of 40 °F or below on an appliance thermometer to keep foods safe to eat. Do not over-stuff the fridge and clean it out regularly. Eat, freeze or throw away leftovers within 3 to 4 days.
5. Teach others how to handle food safely.
People with a higher risk of food poisoning include children younger than 5 years, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, and adults aged 65 and older. Share these safe food handling tips, recipes with food safety steps, and kids’ activities with your family, friends and coworkers. Post the graphic below on social media to spread the word!
For this new year — and beyond — make a renewed commitment to home food safety and hand hygiene to protect your family’s health and the health of your community.
Good health is always a great goal!
