Food Safety News- A Checklist for Safe Foods

Food Safety Checklist

It is a known fact that every year in the United States, around 48 million Americans fall sick, 128000 are hospitalized and 3000 die of foodborne illness, shows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data.


So, considering the importance of food safety in our day-to-day life and promoting a food safety culture and public health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised a few measures to be taken by restaurant kitchens and the food industry.

1. First and foremost is to wash your hands before you start cooking. Thoroughly clean your hands and fingers with soap and water for 20 seconds to make them germ-free. It is one of the easiest ways to prevent food poisoning.

2. Wash vegetables, fruits before you peel them as germs can enter from the surface.

3. It is advised not to wash raw meat poultry as their juice, which has germs, can splash on your cooking utensils and counter.

4. Keep separate knives, chopping boards, and plates for greens and meat poultry.

5. Similarly, temperature both cooking and storage temperature-- plays an important role in keeping food safe. Use a food thermometer to make sure you are cooking food at the right temperature.

How to Avoid Kitchen Germs and Contaminants While Cooking

They might not be visible to your naked eye, but they are definitely there! Yes, the germs and their eyes are on your food.
Bacteria can enter our kitchen in three ways-

When we bring home food from outside
During preparation
And, during storage


Don't worry, germs are preventable! All you need is to follow hygiene in your kitchen. Be cautious while right from buying ingredients from the market to cooking and further storing it.

1. Kitchen cleaners like sponges and towels are often moist and wet, providing a favorable environment for bacteria growth. Make sure to wash them in hot water and sundry them regularly.

2. Kitchen counters and tools- These are the two most-used areas and therefore most exposed to germs! Therefore it is important to clean kitchen tops with hot water after you chop that meat poultry. Similarly, use separate cutting tools and chopping boards for meat poultry and fruits, and veggies to avoid cross-contamination.

3. Wash your produce like spinach, lettuce, and tomatoes thoroughly as they are more prone to E-coli and salmonella during harvest.

4. While shopping, pack your meat poultry in plastic wrap and then keep it in your trolley. As raw meat poultry are vulnerable to pathogens, wrapping them can prevent other food items in your cart safe.

5. Most people marinate the food at room temperature. This is a big NO. It is advisable to keep the marinated dishes in the refrigerator to avoid any bacteria growth.

6. Cooking food at the right temperature can kill most of the bacteria in your food.

7. To keep food safe , store it in refrigerator and set the temperature at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower while ice your freezer below 0 degree Fahrenheit.

How to clean kitchen surfaces and equipment

Restaurant kitchens see a variety of food beverage dishes every hour. From incessant chopping of veggies, meat & poultry to containers full of marinated turkey and ovens going packed with pies back to back, restaurant kitchens are always hustling. In such a scenario, regular cleaning becomes imperative.


1. Cleaning kitchen appliances and tools are as important as cleaning veggies before cooking. Imagine cutting a fresh apple on the chopping boards that were just used for steaks! Not only does it sound gross, it can also lead to cross-contamination.

2. Wash dishes, pans, cooking pots in hot water with soap every night before wrapping up the kitchen. Then, immerse them in a sanitizing solution that can be prepared using chlorine bleach and lukewarm water. Air-dry the dishes as the towels and sponges could contaminate the dishes.

3. Wash iron pots and pans in soapy water using steel brushes and scouring powder.

4. You can also coat these iron utensils with unsalted cooking oil. Then heat it at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for over 2 to 3 hours in a microwave. This will clean the metal thoroughly.

5. To clean aluminum pans, use hot soapy water.

6. For cleaning the microwave, remove the plates and keep a bowl of water, mix white vinegar, and put lemon slices in it. Microwave it for about 5 minutes. The food beverage residue on the walls will loosen up. Wipe the insides with a microfiber cloth.

7. The food industry is obsessed with Pyrex containers. Use baking soda to clean these dishes.

8. If using a wooden board to chop meat, poultry or veggies, use bleach, kosher or lemon, and salt to disinfect it.

9. Keep the grill plates in vinegar or ammonia solution for deep cleaning.

How can we avoid dangerous bacteria like listeria and salmonella?

• Greens like spinach, lettuce alfalfa, and beans are more prone to bacteria like listeria and salmonella. Try to avoid eating them raw or lightly cooking. Cooking them properly at the right temperature will kill these bacteria, preventing food poisoning and other stomach infections.

• Keep green produce separate from meat and poultry .

• Clean counter tops, utensils and cutlery after handling uncooked meat and poultry .

The importance of keeping your kitchen clean

• A clean restaurant kitchen can minimize the risk of foodborne illness like food poisoning

• If your kitchen follows best hygiene practices, it can build your restaurant's goodwill. More people would prefer your eatery as they know you care or public health and food safety .

• Regular cleaning and maintenance can extend life of your kitchen appliances.

• Reduce food wastage.

Cleaning your refrigerator and freezer

• Your refrigerator is your kitchen's best friend as it keeps your Food Safe from bacteria and germs, keeping foodborne illness at bay. From meat poultry to cakes and other food beverages, your refrigerator stores a variety of dishes. So it is vital to give it a right clean from time to time.

• Remove the food from the refrigerator and unplug it. Mix equal parts of vinegar and hot water and spray it inside. Now, using a dry sponge or microfiber cloth, wipe it. To remove stubborn stains of food beverage, dip a brush in the hot water and scrub it off.

• While for the detachable parts like refrigerator trays and drawers, remove them and wash them using lukewarm soapy water.

Conclusion To Food Safety News

Clean food is the easiest way to assure Food Safety and evade foodborne illness. The United States government agency Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued several advisories on Food Safety cooking and storage temperature and keeping kitchens clean. Restaurant kitchen must ensure hygiene practices for Food Safety and public health. Besides washing food products, they should regularly clean the kitchen appliances, sanities the drawers and racks too.

To know more, read Food Safety