Information Update

2006-49
June 21, 2006
For immediate release

Health Canada reminds Canadians about the importance of food safety during the summer months

OTTAWA - Now that summer is here, and picnics, summer-camp lunches and barbeques are being enjoyed across the country, Health Canada would like to remind Canadians of four simple steps they can take to protect themselves from food-borne illnesses: clean, separate, cook and chill.

It is estimated that there are between 11 million and 13 million cases of food related illnesses in Canada every year. Many of these illnesses could be prevented by following proper food handling and preparation techniques.

As the temperature rises, so does the risk of food-borne illness. Hot, humid weather creates the perfect conditions for the rapid growth of bacteria. Summer also means more people are cooking outside at picnics, barbeques and camping trips, without easy access to refrigeration and washing facilities that can help with food safety.

To minimize the risks of food-borne illness, follow these four easy steps when handling and preparing food.

Step One - Clean: Wash hands and surfaces often to avoid the spread of bacteria.

• Wash your hands with hot, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before handling food, and after handling raw meats or poultry, using the bathroom, touching pets or changing diapers.
• Always wash raw fruits and vegetables in clean water. You cannot tell whether foods carry surface bacteria by the way they look, smell or taste.

Step Two - Separate: Keep raw foods separate from cooked foods to avoid cross-contamination.

• When you pack a cooler for an outing, wrap raw meats and poultry securely, and put them on the bottom to prevent juices from dripping onto other foods.
• Wash all plates, utensils, and cutting boards that touched or held raw meat or poultry before using them again for cooked foods.

Step Three - Cook: Make sure you kill harmful bacteria by properly cooking food.

• Traditional visual cues like colour are not a guarantee that food is safe. Don't guess! Take a digital instant-read food thermometer along to check when meat and poultry are safe to eat. Cooked foods are safe to eat when internal temperatures are:
  • 71° C (160° F) for ground beef
  • 74° C (165° F) for leftover food
  • 85° C (185° F) for whole poultry

Step Four - Chill: Keep cold food cold.

• Perishable foods that are normally in the refrigerator, such as luncheon meats, cooked meat, chicken, and potato or pasta salads, must be kept in an insulated cooler with freezer packs or blocks of ice to keep the temperature at 4° C (40° F) or below.
• Put leftovers back in the cooler as soon as you are finished eating.
• The simple rule is: When in doubt, throw it out.

More information on summer food safety is available from:

It's Your Health on Summer Food Safety

It's Your Health on Hamburger Disease

FightBac website

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Media Inquiries:
Paul Duchesne
Health Canada
(613) 954-4807

Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709