Food safety basics

Follow these key steps to reduce the risk of foodborne illness for yourself, your family and friends.

Check your food is safe to use

Before you prepare any food, make sure it is safe:

• For people vulnerable to illness, avoid higher risk foods - read Food safety for vulnerable people to find out more.
• For people with food allergies, check the ingredients and allergen statements on packaging.
• Check that any storage instructions on the packaging have been followed, especially if foods need refrigeration.
• Check for a Use by date - do not eat food that has passed its Use by date.
• Check for any cooking instructions on the packaging - always follow all instructions, do not take short cuts.
• Know how to safely handle and prepare the food - for example:
  • never wash raw chicken before cooking it - watch our video Food Safety at home - don't wash your chicken!

Keep it clean 

While most microorganisms do not cause disease, harmful microorganisms are widely found in soil, water, animals and people.

• Wash your hands thoroughly with warm soapy water and dry them before handling food, as well as often during food preparation, especially after handling raw foods.
• Always wash and dry your hands after going to the toilet.
• Clean your bench surfaces, cutting boards, utensils, and dishes with hot, soapy water before, during, and after cooking.
• Watch our video Food safety at home - Keep Things CLEAN.

Keep it separate 

Microorganisms from raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs can spread to fruits, vegetables, cooked foods and other ready-to-eat foods unless you keep them separate.

• Use one cutting board and knife to prepare raw meats and another set for foods that will not be cooked before being eaten (e.g. salad ingredients).
• Don't put cooked meat on a plate that had raw meat on it.
• Store food in containers to avoid contact between raw and ready-to-eat foods.
• Watch our video Food safety at home - Keep Things SEPARATE.

Cook it thoroughly

Proper cooking kills almost all harmful microorganisms.

• Use a clean food thermometer to check that foods are cooked to a safe internal temperature.
• In general, cooking food to 70°C in the centre will help ensure it is safe to eat.
• FSANZ recommends cooking the following foods to at least 75°C in the centre:
  • all poultry (whole cuts, roast or mince) 
  • all meat that has been minced or rolled (beef, lamb, kangaroo or pork sausages, hamburgers, mince, or rolled roasts) 
  • liver and other offal.