Can you believe it’s September already? Labor Day weekend is almost here and many of you will be having some type of party or family get-together. With all the media attention I know you have the swine flu, colds and the regular flu on your mind but food recalls and food poisoning are right up there in importance. Eating and hosting functions at home are on the rise due to the tight economy. Many people are not aware of basic steps to prevent food poisoning in their own kitchens. Did you know that bacteria are not only found in food but lurk in your kitchen sponge and on your counter tops?  The last thing you want to do is send anyone home with food poisoning.

Let’s scrub up on food safety with some easy tips to keep your kitchen clean and safe and your family healthy. So how do you stay healthy and prevent food poisoning without becoming germ phobic? I’ve compiled tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the USDA and the FDA. Their websites have a lot of info if you want even more tips.

1. Let start with your kitchen sponge. If you use a sponge or a dish cloth in your kitchen, wet it and toss it in the microwave for one minute on high every day, run it through the dishwasher daily or sanitize it in water with bleach. If you use it to wipe up raw meat juices, wash it out with soap and hot water and nuke it again. Or use recycled paper towel so you can toss it. Not as green an option but a safe one. If you use a dish cloth and this goes for dish towels as well, use a fresh one each day and wash the dirty ones in hot water. You know what I’m talking about…..that dish cloth or towel that stands on its own and is stinky….bacteria heaven. And while you’re at it sanitize the sink when you’re done in the kitchen. Wash it with hot soapy water or bleach water…about 1 teaspoon of bleach per quart of water…it’s cheap and easy. You can mix it up in a plastic spray bottle to keep on hand.
2. When you walk in your kitchen at home or at work, the first thing I want you to do is wash your hands. You would think washing hands is a no-brainer but you’d be surprised how many people use their computer keyboard, cell phone, TV remote or other items known to be covered with bacteria and then touch food in the kitchen or food anywhere for that matter. This is a very easy way to cross contaminate or spread germs from one item to something else…in this case, the keyboard to the cutting board or counter or microwave…whatever you are using or to the food itself. So wash well, count to 20…you know…1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi. Or use a hand sanitizer if a sink isn’t available.
3. I’m sorry I even have to mention this but washing hands after a visit to the bathroom is not even worthy of a discussion…just do it….many people don’t and germs transfer from the door handle to your hands and then to everything you touch and eat.
4. Do you use the microwave most every day to cook your breakfast sandwich or frozen dinner? Then you don’t want to miss this tip. Many people just toss the item in the micro for a little while and think they’re good to go. Not so. Microwaves can cook unevenly and leave cold spots in your food where bacteria can survive. It’s really important to follow the directions on the package of the item you’re cooking. These items have been tested and the microwave cooking directions are specific to them. Standing time is important as cooking actually continues during this time. You want the item to be cooked completely through and reach the necessary internal temperature to prevent food poisoning. It’s a smart idea to have a food thermometer. This way you can check the internal temperature which in most cases should be at least 165 degrees. You can find food thermometers in hardware stores, kitchen stores or house wares departments and they’re inexpensive.
5. Now it’s important to wash your watermelon and cantaloupe, citrus and other melons before you cut them. Why? Remember that you cannot see, taste or smell bacteria but it’s there. We know now that bacteria hang out on the skins of watermelon and cantaloupe and if you don’t wash them, guess where the bacteria go when you cut into the fruit with a knife? You got it…right into the flesh of the fruit and then you eat it.

   Now that produce comes from all over the world, it has many opportunities to become contaminated. My motto has basically become to assume the produce is contaminated and wash it before you eat it. Wash all products from apples and carrots to kiwi, grapes and berries…doesn’t matter what it is. Even if you plan to peel it, wash it first because of what we just talked about.

6. And last but not least…how long can food sit out at your party, in front of your TV, or on the counter before bacteria starts to grow? Two hours and that’s it…then it needs to go in the fridge or else be on ice or heated to maintain a safe temperature.

Be smart and savvy when it comes to protecting your health and your family’s health from food poisoning and the often severe illnesses that can result. Put these tips we’ve talked about into action and help keep the bad bugs at bay.

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