Food Safety

Food Safety and COVID-19

Thus far, research has not been able to link the spread of COVID-19 through food. With that being said, it is extremely important to continue to wash your hands before handling/preparing food.

Some basic guidelines:

When grocery shopping both before entering, during shopping and when leaving the store, thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based wipe or use sanitizer in gel or spray format.

Always wear a mask to protect yourself and others.

Ensure you stay at least 2 meters (6 feet) apart from other shoppers at all times.

Touch only the items you need.

Try to navigate the store according to store procedures. There may be arrows or other signs above or on the floor that show the direction shoppers must take, and where to stand in line to check out.

If you or anyone in your household feel ill do not go grocery shopping.

When you arrive home, wash your hands before doing anything (i.e. touching the fridge door, cupboards, etc.) and also after groceries are put away. This will help ensure germs that may have been picked up at the store or on groceries do not spread to appliances and other surfaces in your home. For more info on food safety and COVID-19, visit the Gov’t of Canada.

Handling food safely in your home will prevent foodborne illnesses that can cause food poisoning.

There are 4 main steps to handling food safely:

1. Clean
2. Separate
3. Cook
4. Chill

CLEAN

Handwashing is the #1 way to prevent food poisoning.

Cleaning the surfaces used in preparing and cooking food will prevent cross-contamination and the possible transfer of bacteria.

What is cross contamination?

Cross contamination is the transfer of bacteria from one surface to another. In the kitchen, cross-contamination can occur in 3 ways:

a) Food-to-food (i.e. raw meat juices dripping on lettuce)
b) Person-to-food (i.e. person who handled raw meat did not wash their hands and then touched cooked food/ready to eat foods)
c) Object-to-food (i.e. dirty cutting board, utensils, etc. being used to prepare/serve cooked/ready to eat foods)

To reduce the possibility of cross-contamination:

• Keep raw meats and produce apart by keeping cutting boards and utensils separate.
• Wash surfaces like countertops, cutting boards and utensils regularly. Clean all surfaces that may be in contact with food. Cleaning should be done before, during and after the cooking/preparation process.
• Wash hands frequently to stop the spread of germs and bacteria
  • when you begin food preparation
  • after handling raw meats
  • anytime you touch other surfaces like the phone, your face/hair, pets or if you use the washroom or change a diaper.

Read Information about hand hygiene and the proper steps to washing hands from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

SEPARATE

Raw meats must be separated from other foods in your shopping cart, and in your fridge as they can spread harmful bacteria in your kitchen if they are not handled properly.

• Keep raw meats in sealed bags or containers so juices do not drip onto other foods.
• Use a separate cutting board for meats to avoid cross-contamination.
• Always wash your hands after handling raw meat.
• Use separate plates for raw and cooked food.
• If you are marinating raw meat, the marinade must be boiled first if you want to use it as a sauce on the cooked meat. Boiling the marinade will kill any harmful bacteria and make the sauce safe to eat.

COOK

Meat, poultry, fish and seafood must be cooked thoroughly and to the proper temperature to reduce the risk of food borne illness.

• You can use a digital food or meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of foods. Doneness is determined by checking the temperature. Stick the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat, avoiding the bone.

Read more on cooking Manitoba meat products from these local organizations:

Manitoba Chicken Producers: Cooking Chicken

Manitoba Pork: Safe Food Handling

Manitoba Turkey: Cooking Canadian Turkey

Manitoba Beef Producers: Canada Beef Cooking Know How

CHILL (Refrigerate Promptly)

Cold foods must be kept cold at a temperature of 4°C / 40°F or colder. This is important in shopping, getting your groceries home and storing and using foods. If foods are not kept cold, harmful bacteria can begin to grow.

Shopping

• In the grocery store, pick up the refrigerated and frozen items last so they don’t warm up while you are shopping.
• Go directly home with groceries and put food straight into the fridge or freezer.
• In the summer, consider taking an insulated shopping bag or cooler to protect your cold foods in transport.

Storage

• If you are storing meat in the fridge, make sure the packaging is not leaking juices onto other food. Keep raw uncooked meat on the bottom shelf.
• For information on how long food should be refrigerated or frozen, read the articles Safe Food Storage and Top Tips for Storing Fresh Food.

Safe Freezing and Thawing

• If you are planning to freeze meats (especially if bought in large value packs), separate meat into freezer bags in the desired portion amounts. Label the freezer bags with contents and date so it will be easy to identify after it is frozen (for example, 4 Chicken breasts, July 13, 2020).
• Never defrost food on the counter at room temperature. There are three safe ways to defrost food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave using the defrost setting. Raw meats and seafood that are thawed should be cooked right away. Read more about safe thawing in Safe Food Storage or in the Government of Canada article, Safely Defrosting Foods.

Not only do cold foods need to stay cold, but hot foods need to stay hot, at 60°C / 140°F or above, to stay out of the danger zone where bacteria starts to grow. Bacteria grows rapidly in the ‘danger zone’ between 4°C and 60°C (40°F and 140°F).

Leftovers

• Store any leftovers properly. Transfer any uneaten food into shallow containers that will cool quickly and store in the refrigerator as soon as possible.
• The longer food is kept at room temperature, the greater risk of bacterial growth in the food. The goal is to have food cooled and placed in the refrigerator within 2 hours of cooking. For more information, read Food safety tips for leftovers.
• If you are bringing home leftovers from a restaurant, put them in the fridge as soon as possible.

OTHER TIPS FOR SAFE FOOD STORAGE:

• Clean your kitchen regularly. This includes the refrigerator, freezer, cupboards and pantry. Check for foods that may be spoiling or ones that need to be used right away before they spoil.
• In the fridge and freezer, try not to pack all of the food tightly together and allow for air to flow through.
• Store dried goods (cans, dried pasta/rice, crackers, etc.) in a cool dry place. Prior to opening cans, inspect them for dents, swelling and rust. If the can appears to be damaged in any way, throw it out. Once cans are opened, if you are not going to eat the entire contents right away, empty them into a glass bowl, cover and refrigerate.

For more information on safe food storage, see multiple topics from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. You can also read more in the Manitoba Association of Home Economists article Safe Food Storage.

Other Related Resources

Interactive Guide to Safe Food Handling from Health Canada

Food Safety at Home from the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority

Kitchen Tips and Food Handling Videos from the Dietitians of Canada

Read these articles next:
Top Tips for Storing Fresh Food
Safe Food Storage