Safe food preparation and handling is always important, however, during pregnancy it is more so because you are especially at risk for food borne illnesses. Use these guidelines to help keep your food (and your family) safe.
Clean
Wash hands using warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds:
- Before handling food
- After handling raw meat, poultry, eggs or lunch meat
- After using the bathroom
- After changing your child's diaper
- After being in public places
- After playing with children orpets
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly. This includes pre-washed salad greens and pre-cut vegetables
- Wash utensils, dishes and cutting boards thoroughly after each use. Especially after they've come in contact with raw eggs, meat, seafood or poultry. Designate 1 cutting board for raw foods only
- Wash kitchen surfaces after food preparation
- Clean your fridge frequently with hot, soapy water
Separate
- Keep raw poultry, meat and seafood separated from other foods in your shopping cart
- Double-wrap meat and poultry in your fridge or freezer so they don't drip
Chill
- Keep your fridge below 4° C (40° F) and your freezer below -18° C (0° F)
- Chill or freeze perishable foods within 2 hours
- Store meats and poultry below fresh fruits, vegetables and uncooked foods
- Thaw foods inside the fridge, not on the countertop. Don't store highly perishable foods like milk or eggs on the fridge door. The door doesn't stay as cold as the rest of the fridge
Cook
- Use a meat thermometer
- Cook meats thoroughly. To reduce dangerous bacteria, reheat meat and poultry to between 63° C (145°F) and 82 ° C (180°F)
- Cook fish until the flesh turns opaque
- Cook eggs for at least 3 minutes. Never use cracked eggs
- Rotate your dish while reheating food in a microwave, so no cold spots remain
- Obey expiration dates
To Learn More, visit the Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education.
