Do not contaminate your food! Cross-contamination occurs when bacteria spread from one food item to another. This can easily happen when cooked or ready-to-eat foods come into contact with raw meat or other uncooked foods, dirty hands or contaminated utensils. Keep raw and ready-to-eat foods separate!

Common sources of cross-contamination are :

• cutting boards, countertops, plates and other food surfaces
• slicers, mixers and grinders
• serving utensils, knives and tongs
• hands
• insects
• food probe thermometers (these are used to test the inside temperature of food)
• juices from raw meats dripping onto cooked or ready-to-eat foods

Separation tips :

• Store raw meat, poultry and seafood on the bottom shelf of the fridge.
• Use separate cutting boards (e.g., always the same one for raw meat and a different board for fruits and vegetables).
• Wash, rinse and sanitize cutting boards, utensils and food probe thermometers before re-using.
• Never put cooked food on a plate, cutting board or surface used for raw meat, poultry, seafood or eggs.
• Marinate foods in the refrigerator and do not use the same marinade for basting.
• Do not smoke while preparing food.

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