Symptoms of Food Poisoning:
- Stomach Cramps
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- General Body Aches
Safe Food-Handling Tips:
- Wash hands and all preparation surfaces often.
Use hot soap and water, or clean, wet, disposable washcloths and paper towels for cleaning your hands and surfaces. - Avoid cross-contamination.
Do not let raw meat juices to come in contact with ready-to-eat foods.
Wash plates, utensils, and cutting boards that held the raw meat or poultry before using them again for cooked food or vegetables. - Cook food to proper temperatures.
- Cook hamburger and other ground meats (veal, lamb, and pork) to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F, and ground poultry to 165 degrees F.
- Cook steaks and roasts that have been tenderized, boned, rolled, etc., to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F for medium, and 170 degrees F for well-done. Whole steaks and roasts may be cooked to 145 degrees F for medium rare.
-Whole poultry should be cooked to 180 degrees F in the thigh. Breast meat should be cooked to 170 degrees F
(This information courtesy of the USDA.) - Chill or refrigerate all leftover food immediately.
By following these steps whenever cooking, either in your home or while outdoors, you can significantly risk the chances of inadvertent food poisoning for you and your family.
Related Internet Links:
- Safe Tables Our Priority (STOP)
This support site has extensive information about foodborne illnesses. - Eric's Echo
This site is dedicated to 13 year-old Eric Jackson Mueller, who died after eating an E.Coli O157:H7 contaminated hamburger. - Gateway to Government Food Safety Information
News, safety alerts and information for educators and families about food safety.