Food safety as a lifestyle

Foods can be contaminated during any of the production, processing, distribution, storage or preparation stages.

Germs can spread from unclean hands, equipment, clothes or surfaces to food. If one food, especially if raw, comes in contact with other types of food or if it remains at room temperature for an extended period of time, bacteria could grow rapidly and present huge health risks.

Food safety heavily depends on the commitment of everybody involved in the food supply chain, from growers and producers to retailers.

However, while this aspect depends on how different professionals handle the food, it is also important for everyone to know how to prepare their own food safely and hygienically at home. It is a daily commitment we should never underestimate.

While everyone is at risk, food poisoning might have more serious consequences for babies, children, pregnant women and the elderly, as they tend to have a weaker immune system.

Did you know?

It is often impossible to know beforehand if food is contaminated, as it might look, taste and smell exactly like non-contaminated food.

Buy food safely

Food producers and sellers are required to comply with an increasing number of food safety laws. However the hygiene and quality of your food can be compromised by how you handle it. When you are shopping for food, make sure to choose, pack and transport it very carefully to ensure it remains safe to eat.

Make sure to never buy:

Swollen, leaking or dented containers or cans.
Items with damaged or faulty packaging.
Foods that are beyond their Sell By or Use By dates.
Products that are moldy or soiled.
Frozen or chilled foods that have been kept out of the freezer or refrigerator.
Ready-to-eat foods left uncovered on counters.
Hot food, like takeaways, which are not steaming hot.
Cracked or dirty eggs.
Items of dubious quality.

Did you know?

A single foodborne bacterium can grow into more than two million bacteria in just seven hours under the right conditions.

High risk foods that require special attention:

Dairy products and dairy based desserts.
Raw and cooked meat, including poultry, and foods containing these.
Small goods such as hams and salamis.
Eggs and egg products.
Seafood.
Prepared salads.
Ready-to-eat foods, including sandwiches and rolls that contain any of the food above.
Cooked rice and pasta.

Choose and transport your food safely:

Always pick up your frozen or chilled foods towards the end of your shopping trip.
Avoid fish, meat or chicken juices leaking onto other products.
Ensure that the staff use separate utensils or methods when handling different food types.
Buy hot food later in your trip and keep it separate from cold produce.
Wash your reusable shopping bags regularly.

If you have purchased hot, chilled or frozen foods, you should get them home within two hours, or within an hour if temperatures exceed 32°C.