Foodborne Illness
Foodborne illness is a common, costly—yet preventable—public health problem. Consumers can protect themselves by following these four steps:
- Clean – Wash your hands and utensils before preparing foods and after handling raw meats, poultry and eggs.
- Separate – keep raw meats, poultry and eggs separate from vegetables or other foods that will not be cooked
- Cook – foods fully and check temperature using a thermometer.
- Chill – leftovers and take out foods within 2 hours. Keep your refrigerator at below 41oF.
Food Safety Resources for Home Cooking
Cooking for the holidays?
Keep your favorite holiday foods fresh and safe! Learn more.
Planning a Barbecue or Picnic?
When cooking outside, or packing food to cook elsewhere, there are plenty of opportunities for food contamination to occur. Luckily, there are steps you can take to keep your food safer when you're grilling or headed out for a picnic.
Charitable Giving & Food Donation
If you're considering donating food to local, charitable organizations, thank you. Your contributions help our community members immeasurably. But before you donate, consider these guidelines first.