Tips on Avoiding Food Poisoning

A few helpful do's and don'ts on food preparation should help you avoid swallowing anything other than your work lunch baguette, a barbecued burger bun or a prepared convenience meal. With food poisoning cases on the rise and awareness of correct food handling techniques on the decline, this guide is essential for your health.

Part of the peril of today's fast food culture is that it is designed to provide you with food that you don't have to think about. Were the ingredients sitting in the deli counter fresh in that day, or have they been displayed there for a questionable amount of time? Is the salad in your sandwich fresh or a bit wilting? Perhaps it was added to the filling while the cooked egg or meat was still warm?

It is not just others' bad food preparation techniques that you need to beware of - you may be just as guilty. Do you wash your hands before eating your lunch at work? Do you take bites of your sandwich between typing and/or picking up the phone? If so, then don't be surprised if you come down with a stomach bug the next day. You are putting yourself in the path of some very nasty bacteria.

In this guide are listed three common meal time situations and the do's and don'ts of food hygiene in each category. So to avoid catching a nasty bug at your desk, contaminating your prepared meals or poisoning your friends and family at a barbecue, just follow this simple checklist guide.

Making a sandwich at work and eating at your desk

1. Wash your hands thoroughly before making a sandwich and make sure you dry them on kitchen towel rather than a dishcloth or tea towel.

2. Store mayonnaise and ham correctly in the fridge (away from possible contamination by other foods).

3. Don't use mayonnaise that is past its use by date; sniff the jar if in doubt.

4. Always wash salad vegetables before preparing even if they are pre-packaged.

5. Don't cut up ham on a chopping board that hasn't been cleaned since someone used it to cut raw chicken.

6. Try not to eat a sandwich at your desk and type between tacking bites of your lunch.

Reheating a frozen convenience meal at home

1. Place frozen dishes in the freezer as soon as you get back home from the shops.

2. Don't overload the freezer, as it will be less effective at storing food.

3. Always wash your hands before cooking and between handling raw foods.

4. Never wipe your hands on a dirty dishcloth, which can carry many germs.

5. Don't allow pets in the kitchen while you are preparing or cooking food.

6. Follow the defrosting and cooking instructions on the packet.

7. Don't forget to wash your hands after emptying the kitchen rubbish bin.

8. Avoid using leftover rice that has been left out of the fridge in a warm kitchen for some time. It will be a powerhouse of bacteria.

Preparing burgers on a barbecue

1. Always thaw out frozen burgers thoroughly before cooking them.

2. Don't neglect to wash your hands before cooking and before and after handling raw meat.

3. Wait until the charcoal is glowing red, with a powdery grey surface, before your start to cook.

4. Turn the burgers and move them around the barbecue to make sure you cook them evenly.

5. Avoid using the same utensils for raw and cooked meats.

6. Cook the burgers until they are piping hot all the way through.

7. Don't place the cooked burgers on the plate that you had the raw meat on.

8. Don't add marinade to cooked burgers that has already been used to flavor the raw meat.

Following these basic tips on food preparation and personal hygiene will help you avoid unnecessary food poisoning or food contamination.