What Are CDC Food Safety Guidelines?
CDC's Food Safety guidelines are simple to comprehend, and easy to follow. CDC recommend Food Handlers to follow the principle of- Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill.
As per the CDC info, germs that cause food poisoning can survive at multiple places and spread around your kitchen. Washing hands for 20 seconds with soap and water before, during, and after preparing food and before eating helps. Washing utensils, chopping boards, and countertops with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item may help in keeping the germs away. Rinsing fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water is also a good way to keep the germs away from your food.
Avoiding any cross-contamination is one of the best methods to prevent foodborne illness. Raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs can spread germs to ready-to-eat foods unless you keep them separate. It is advisable to use separate cutting boards and plates for raw meat, poultry, and seafood. When grocery shopping, keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and their juices away from other foods. Even while refrigerating, keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs separate from all other foods.
- Cook to the right temperature
By controlling the temperature, one can control the levels of bacteria which spoil foods and cause illness. Heat kills bacteria. When cooked, the internal temperature of food gets high enough to kill germs that can make you sick. The only way to tell if food is safely cooked is to use a food thermometer, not by checking its color and texture (except for seafood that can be checked with external icons like texture, etc).
For instance, whole cuts of beef, veal, lamb, and pork, including fresh ham (raw) should have an internal temperature of 145F. These meat items should be then allowed to rest for three minutes before carving or eating. Ground meats, such as beef and pork should have an internal temperature of 160F.
Refrigerating, again, is a way to reduce the growth of any harmful bacteria. Cold temperatures slow down the growth of bacteria to prevent it from reaching harmful levels. Bacteria can multiply rapidly if left at room temperature or in the Danger Zone between 40F and 140F. CDC suggests to keep your refrigerator at 40F or below, and the freezer at 0F or below. One should know when to throw food out. Divide warm foods into several clean, shallow containers so they will chill faster. Refrigerate perishable food within 2 hours. If the food is exposed to temperatures above 90F (like a hot car or picnic), refrigerate it within one hour. Thaw frozen food safely in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave. Never thaw foods on the counter because bacteria multiply quickly in the parts of the food that reach room temperature.
But in case of any untoward incident where one suspects food could be the cause of the symptoms,
Find Doctor immediately for control and prevention of any complication.