Food Safety Part 2: SEPARATE

Use separate cutting boards and plates for produce, meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs:

• Invest in multiple cutting boards: Remember to always wash them after use and replace them once they are worn.
  • Fresh produce: This includes all fresh fruits and vegetables that will may or may not be cooked before eating.
  • Raw meat: This includes all raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
• Utensils should be used for designated foods before and after cooking. Use separate plates and utensils for raw foods and clean plates for those same foods once they have been cooked.
• Always wash any surface, plates, cutting boards, countertops, and utensils, that have touched raw meat, poultry, or seafood. Use hot soapy water to clean these areas to reduce the chance of cross-contamination.

Keep foods separate:

• Even while shopping you can prevent cross-contamination. Keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood in plastic bags when available to prevent their liquid from touching other items in your cart. When checking out place all raw meat, poultry, and seafood items in separate bags from other foods.
• Once at home place raw meat, poultry, and seafood in food-safe containers or in sealed plastic bags. If you do not plan to use them in the next 3-5 days freeze them for later use.
• Arrange your fridge so all raw meats, poultry, and seafood are located on the bottom shelves. This prevents any liquid from accidentally dripping on other foods.
• Keep eggs in their carton and store them in the main compartment rather than in the door where temperatures fluctuate more frequently.

–Written by Alicia Leitch, Nutrition Educator