How to Prevent Food Poisoning in your Home (2305)

Food poisoning ranks second only to the common cold as the most frequent cause of illness in this country, according to United States Government authorities. Food poisoning results most frequently from carelessness in the handling, preparation and storage of food.

Poor food-handling practices in the home often cause illness in the family, even though foods were safe to eat when you bought or first prepared them. Poor sanitation, insufficient cooking and improper storage can allow bacteria in food to increase to dangerous levels. Illness from food contaminated by harmful bacteria is especially common during hot summer months when you take perishable foods on picnics and cookouts without keeping them cold.

You can protect your family from foodborne illness by following these steps:

- Practice careful personal hygiene for all members of the household;

- Keep all dishes, utensils, kitchen equipment, and work surfaces clean.

- Keep perishable foods either hot or cold.

- Store foods carefully. The possibilities for error are greater when you handle large quantities of food, and/or when time schedules are hectic. Large quantities of food do not heat or cool as quickly as smaller batches.

For example, a large kettle of chili or spaghetti sauce cools slowly. Bacteria grow quickly when food is between 120 degrees F and 60 degrees F. In the process of heating or cooling, a food is in the hazardous temperature range.

Quick cooling is essential to prevent this hazard. You can do this easily by dividing the large quantities into smaller amounts. Then set the pans in ice cold water. Stir occasionally to hurry cooling, or refrigerate the food in shallow pans (less than four inches deep). This reduces the time the food is in the dangerous temperature zone. Try to get foods cooled to refrigerator temperature in two hours or less. Safe food handling saves money and protects health.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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