Separating And Handling Foods

Maggie LaBarbera • RN, MBA • Mar 15, 2012

Separating Foods Guidelines - Eliminating Food Safety Risks

When prepping a meal, use separate cutting boards for produce (lettuce, tomatoes, etc) and meat, poultry, and fish which can be contaminated with bacteria such as e.coli and salmonella. The chances for cross-contamination is high so always keep meats, pultyr and eggs separate from produce.

Follow these food safety guidelines when separating foods

Keep meat, poultry, seafood and eggs separate from other food items in the grocery cart. They should be bagged separately.
Keep meat, poultry, seafood and eggs in their own area in the refrigerator. You don't want the juices from these foods dripping into ready to eat foods and contaminating it
Use a separate cutting board, plate, utensils to prepare meat, poultry, seafoods and eggs. These foods can easily cross contaminate foods with bacteria.