Food Safety
www.foodsafety.gc.ca
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Safe Food Handling and Preparation
Cleaning and Preparing Food
Bacteria can easily spread throughout your kitchen. Before and after preparing food, wash hands, cutting boards, knives and countertops with warm soapy water.
- Preventing food poisoning: Play it "food safe" in your kitchen!
- The benefits of hand washing: Even if your hands look clean, they may carry germs.
- Safe Food Handling: Interactive Guide: Explore safe food handling tips to learn how you can safely handle food at home and at the grocery store.
- Safe handling of fresh fruits and vegetables: To reduce the risk of illness, follow these food safety tips.
- Produce safety: Safely handle produce such as melons, leafy greens, tomatoes, fresh herbs and mushrooms.
Cooking Food
Improper heating of food could mean that harmful bacteria can survive and this could make you sick. Prepare foods quickly, cook them well, and serve them immediately.
- Everyday safe food handling practices: Find out how important it is to clean, chill, separate and cook.
- Kitchen and housewares: Most cookware found in Canada is safe, but some may release harmful substances into food or drinks.
- Microwave ovens and food safety: Some people have concerns about the effect of microwaves on their health and on the health and safety of their foods.
- Defrosting, cooking, reheating with microwave ovens: Cooking in a microwave oven might not result in even cooking, so follow these instructions to be sure.
- Ground beef safety: Safety tips when handling and cooking ground beef.
- Common names and diagrams of meat cuts: A guide for industry that sets out the official common names of meat cuts.
Storing and Refrigerating Food
Bacteria grow fastest at room temperature, so keep food cold to reduce the risk of food poisoning. Put leftovers in the refrigerator within two hours of eating.
- Preventing food poisoning: How safe is YOUR kitchen?
- Food Handling and Storage Tips - Failure to safely store food may cause bacteria in food to multiply and this could result in a food poisoning.
- Safe Food Handling: Interactive Guide: Explore safe food handling tips to learn how you can safely handle food at home and at the grocery store.
- Safe handling of fresh fruits and vegetables: Food poisoning can result from buying poor quality products and using improper storage, handling and preparation techniques.
- Food safety facts on leftovers: You cannot tell if a food may cause food poisoning by its look, smell or taste. Remember: If in doubt, throw it out!
- Lead crystalware and your health: Lead crystalware may release lead into the food and beverages it comes in contact with.
Food Safety Tips
Keep yourself and your family safe from food-related illness by preparing healthy meals. Safe food practices can prevent food poisoning.
