The Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) is reminding everyone about the importance of food safety when making and eating holiday meals.
You can reduce your risk of food poisoning by taking precautions when preparing, cooking, and storing food.
Food poisoning is caused by eating food contaminated with certain bacteria, viruses, and parasites (e.g., Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes). These bacteria are sometimes found in raw foods, unwashed produce, and unpasteurized milk, fruit juices and cider.
To reduce your risk of illness this holiday season, RCDHU recommends the following:
- Clean hands, surfaces (e.g., kitchen counters) and utensils frequently.
- Always wash fresh fruit and vegetables with clean water.
- Never place cooked food back on the same plate that previously had contact with raw food unless it has been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.
- Use a cooking thermometer to ensure foods are fully cooked to the recommended internal temperatures.
- Throw out perishable foods that have sat at room temperature for more than two hours as bacteria can grow rapidly. You cannot tell whether food is contaminated with bacteria by the way it looks, tastes or smells.
For more information on how to consume and prepare food safely during the Christmas season, you can visit RCDHU’s website here.
(Written by: Sierra Levesque)
