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In order to minimize your risk for foodborne illness, follow these four
basic food safety steps:
 1)
CLEAN
Wash your hands well with soap and hot water for 20 seconds before
and after handling or preparing food. Clean and sanitize all cooking
equipment, utensils and work surfaces before and after use with a mild
bleach solution (use 5 ml/1 tsp bleach in 750 ml/3 cups water). Rinse
with clean water. Let air dry if possible, or use clean kitchen towels
or paper towels.
2) SEPARATE
 Don’t cross-contaminate. Keep raw foods away from ready-to-eat foods
while shopping, storing and preparing foods.
- Never place cooked food back on the same plate or cutting board
that previously held raw food
- Discard worn cutting boards
- Sauce that is used to marinate raw meat, poultry or seafood should
not be used on cooked foods
 3)
CHILL
Refrigerate at or below 4°C (40°F) or freeze at or below –18°C (0°F).
Keep meat and poultry either below 40° F (4° C) or above 140° F (60° C)
4) COOK
Cook foods to proper temperatures and hold at or above 60°C (140°F).
Keep foods out of the danger zone (4°C to 60°C/40°F to 140°F).
 Cooking
raw meat and poultry:
- Cook foods thoroughly
- Do not rely on colour as an indicator of when the meat is cooked
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure that all meat and poultry is cook
thoroughly
Internal Temperature:
 The most accurate way to ensure you have killed any bacteria that may
be present in your poultry is to make sure your cooked product reaches a
minimum internal temperature of 170F. This should always be tested using
a meat thermometer.
Tips for Using a Meat Thermometer:
- Insert the thermometer stem into the thickest part of the food
product. Be sure to keep it away from large pieces of fat, gristle or
bone, as these areas will give a false temperature reading
- Let the thermometer rest in the food for 30 seconds before reading
the temperature
- If the food does not have a regular shape, check the temperature
in several places ensuring that one temperature reading is at the
thickest part of the meat
- Wash the thermometer stem in hot soapy water every time you use it
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