June 5, 2010 - With an increase in the food poisoning incidents reported over the summer, Health Unit representatives launched a BBQ Food Safety campaign today at the Thunder Bay Country Market by giving out food safety materials to those in attendance as well as distributing probe thermometers to use when grilling.
“The risk of food poisoning increases in the summer for two reasons,” says Chris Beveridge, Manager of the Environmental Health Programs at the Health Unit. “Some of the dangerous bacteria, like Salmonella and E. coli, can multiply and grow more quickly in the warmer weather. The summer months also bring an increase in outside entertaining, where the home cook does not have easy access to a sink for hand washing or fridge to keep food cold, two of the most important kitchen safety features that help us fight bacteria when we are handling and cooking food.”
Most food poisonings happen at home, so it’s important to fight bacteria by taking four key steps – clean, separate, cook and chill.
- Clean – Clean hands often, but also the surfaces and equipment that touch the food. This includes cutting boards, knives, countertops and cooking surfaces like the grill.
- Separate – Keep raw food separate from cooked food. In the fridge, keep raw food on a plate on the bottom shelf. Use two different plates for your meat – one to bring raw food to the grill and a new, clean plate to bring cooked food to the table to serve!
- Cook – Check meat with a probe thermometer to be sure it is safe to eat. A cooking temperature chart can be found at tbdhu.com/eh
- Chill – Keep meat cold before cooking and chill any leftovers right away.
To get these messages out, the Health Unit will be educating the public through newspaper and radio ads as well home delivery of a food safety brochure. Local grocery stores have also partnered with the Health Unit in this food safety initiative by making the brochure available at their meat counters. Finally, a quiz posted on the Health Unit’s website, tbdhu.com, will allow residents to test their food safety knowledge for a chance to win a prize package. The quiz will be available until June 16th.
For more information about handling food safely, during barbecue season or any time of the year, information is available at tbdhu.com/eh or by calling a Public Health Inspector at 625-5930 or 1-888-294-6630, ext. 5930.
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