Last time we talked about keeping things clean. Today  we are going to talk about another food safety tip:

Separate- Don't cross-contaminate!

Cross-contaminate??!! That's a big hyphenated word. What in the heck does that mean?

Cross-contamination is scientific speak for how bacteria can be spread from one thing to another : Food products, surfaces, anything. But for the sake of this journal we are interested in food cross-contamination.

We are especially interested in cross-contamination when it comes to handling raw meat,poultry, and seafood. It is important to keep these foods and their juices away from ready to eat foods .

    * Separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood from other foods in your shopping cart. It would be a wonderful idea if before you go to the meat section, visit the produce section and grab some plastic vegetable bags (you know the ones they supply in the produce section meant for bagging veggies). Use these to bag the meat you pick up.  

   " But the meat is already packaged in it's own little cute carton!!!"

Yes I know! But somehow, someway, those little buggers find a way of leaking meat juice and residue e're where! While we're at it, why don't I add this: since we know that the meat cartons leak,why don't we try putting the meat items(meat, poulty,seafood) on the bottom of your cart! That way if it invariably must drain, it'll drain on the supermarket floor instead of down into your ice cream and lettuce.I mean nothing could be nastier tasting and more harmful to you than beef blood mint chocolate chip ice cream.

    * If at all possible, use a different cutting board for raw meats and raw meat products,but if not go with a plastic cutting board. Remember in our last entry we talked a little about cutting boards and how it would be better for you to use plastic. Plastic is good because unlike wood, it is non porous and can be washed and disinfected far better. Can you just imagine for a moment cutting raw meat on wood,the meat juice soaking down into the wood, you thinking you've done your civil duty to clean it,only to have it come back to haunt you as salmonelosis (salmonella) or some other creeping stomach crud!! I don't know about you, but I don't have time for the pain!

     *Always....always...always wash and disinfect : cutting boards, countertops, dishes, utensils, hands, and anything else that raw meat,poultry,and seafood juice may have landed on,flew on, splattered  on, and/or sprinkled on. Always wash anything after it comes in contact with raw meat,poultry,and seafood. It's best if you disinfect with  hot,soapy ,bleach water.

     * Never, ever,never,never,never....place cooked food on a plate which previously held raw meat,poultry and seafood!!!!! You are just outright begging "Please make me sick!"  I can't stress this fact enough!

    Next time you tune in we'll be talking about:

Cooking to proper temperatures