Be aware of the risks associated with the food products you buy and know how to prepare your food safely. Treat all raw poultry and meat, including raw pet food, as if it is contaminated and handle it safely.
- Refrigerate foods promptly
- Keep raw poultry and meats well wrapped and on lower refrigerator shelves so blood does not drip onto other foods
- Thaw poultry and meat in the refrigerator, microwave, or under cold running water, not at room temperature
- Do not eat raw or undercooked poultry or meats
- To ensure poultry and meats are cooked thoroughly, use a meat thermometer and take the INTERNAL temperature of the meat by inserting the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat. You must achieve the following temperatures: The MINIMUM internal temperature for poultry is 74º C (165º F)and the MINIMUM internal temperature for other meats is 71º C (160º F)
- Avoid direct contact between raw meats and other uncooked foods
- When cooking or barbequing, use separate plates and utensils for raw and cooked poultry and meat
- Use a separate cutting board for raw meats. If a second cutting board is unavailable, cut all other ingredients first before cutting raw meats
- Wash and sanitize items that do not go in the dishwasher, such as cutting boards, utensils, counters, kitchen sinks and tap handles:
1) Wash with warm, soapy water
2) Rinse with warm, plain water
3) Sanitize with a mild bleach solution - one teaspoon of bleach per litre of water. Immerse items in the solution or spray solution onto surfaces and soak for at least two minutes to kill any bacteria
WASH YOUR HANDS!
1) Before eating
2) Before handling food
3) Immediately after handling raw poultry or meat, and before touching anything else
4) After using the toilet or changing diapers
5) After touching animals
6) After any time they may have become contaminated
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Do not eat raw unpasteurized eggs or uncooked foods containing raw unpasteurized eggs
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Do not drink unpasteurized milk, and if you are prone to more serious illness, do not drink unpasteurized juices
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If your local drinking water provider has issued a Boil Water Notice for your community, take the advice seriously
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Do not drink untreated surface water from a spring, stream, river, lake, pond or shallow well. Assume it is contaminated with animal feces.
1) drinking
2) making ice cubes
3) washing uncooked fruits and vegetables
4) making baby formula
5) brushing teeth
6) washing dentures and
7) any other consumption without adequate heat treatment
- Boil water for at least 1 minute at a rolling boil. At elevations above 2000 m (6562 ft), boil for at least 2 minutes, or
- Disinfect using 1 drop of bleach per litre of water. Shake and allow to stand for 30 minutes before drinking
- For more information read How To Disinfect Drinking Water
- Make sure children, particularly those who handle pets, wash their hands carefully before eating and on a regular basis if they suck their thumbs or put their hands in their mouths
- Avoid feeding your pet raw food (meat or commercial raw pet food), raw meat pet treats or unpasteurized milk. If you choose to feed these products to your pet, follow the safe food handling measures described above including thoroughly washing and disinfecting all surfaces and pet bowls that have been in contact with this raw food. The raw food should not be left out- immediately cover and refrigerate what you pet doesn't eat or throw the leftovers out
- Do not allow young children or those who have compromised immune systems to handle chicks, ducklings or reptile pets
- If you are considering raising poultry in your backyard, talk to your local government about bylaws and check out the CDC website for information on backyard poultry for precautions to follow.
- If a trip to a petting zoo or farm is planned, read Petting Zoos and Open Farm Visits for important information.
