September is National Food Safety Education Month! This month is all about taking steps to prevent foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning. Symptoms of foodborne illness can include: diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, and fever.
Below are easy steps to prevent foodborne illness in your kitchen:
- WASH: your hands, cutting boards, dishes, and counters with warm, soapy water.
- SEPARATE: your produce from raw meat, poultry, and eggs in the fridge.
- COOK: Use a thermometer to make sure meat is cooked properly:
- Beef and pork: 145 °F
- Fish: 145 °F
- Ground Beef or Pork: 160 °F
- Turkey and Chicken: 165 °F
- CHILL: Refrigerate meat, poultry, eggs, and produce within 2 hours of purchasing or cooking.
Written by: Priya Samuel, EFNEP student volunteer