Everything Counts

When It Comes to Protecting Your Family

Protect Your Family

(Proteja a su familia)

You do everything possible to protect yourself and 

your family. When you are in a car, you put on the 

safety belts in order to avoid injuries. You teach your 

children to cross a street and to never open a door to 

strangers.

Caring for your family means that you have to be careful in your kitchen. The food you serve your family 

can be dangerous if it is not safely handled, cooked, or 

refrigerated.

Very dangerous bacteria like Listeria or Salmonella 

can be hidden in your food and cause abdominal 

cramps and diarrhea – even send you to the hospital.

Adequate food handling is very simple and very similar to precautions we take every day. It is also important to keep your family healthy.

Separate your Food

(Separe los Alimentos)

You separate white and colored items before washing 

them. Colored clothes can stain white clothes if you 

put them together in the washing machine.

Storing certain foods in the same place could be disastrous. Raw juices often contain harmful bacteria and 

can cross-contaminate other foods if they are

placed together.

Remember to separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood 

from fruits, vegetables, and cooked foods when

preparing meals and storing them in the refrigerator.

Do not use the same kitchen utensils, cutting board, 

and other surfaces to prepare meat and vegetables. 

Crosscontamination can occur when bacteria is spread 

between foods.

1. Rinse vegetables before serving. This 

will decrease the risk of foodborne 

bacteria like Salmonella or E.coli

O157:H7.

2. Always keep raw meats away from 

cooked foods. This way you can 

prevent cross-contamination and 

decrease the risk of foodborne 

bacteria, like Campylobacter.

3. It is important to cook meat to a 

recommended safe minimum internal temperature. Always use a food 

thermometer.

4. Refrigerate or freeze prepared foods 

and leftovers within two hours to 

prevent bacterial growth.

Looks can be deceiving

(Las apariencias pueden engañar)

Beef, Veal, Lamb

Ground 160 °F

Medium rare 145 °F

Medium 160 °F

Well done 170 °F

Poultry (Chicken, Turkey, Duck, or Goose)

Ground 165 °F*

Whole, roast 165 °F*

Thighs, drumstick, wings 165 °F*

Breast 165 °F*

Stuffing 165 °F*

Pork

Ground 160 °F

Parts, medium 160 °F

Ham

Raw 160 °F

Pre-cooked, reheat 140 °F

Eggs & Egg Dishes Cook until yolk and white are firm

Egg dishes 160 °F

Casseroles 165 °F

Keep cooked foods hot 140 °F

Reheat leftovers 165 °F

*The safe minimum internal temperature.

Four Steps That Can Save Your Life

(Cuatro pasos que le pueden salvar la vida)

Clean: Wash your hands with warm water and soap, 

and wash cooking utensils and all surfaces used for 

cooking with hot water and soap.

Separate: cross-contamination can occur. Separate raw 

beef, pork, poultry, and seafood from other foods and 

never place them together in the refrigerator.

Cook: Cook to a safe temperature to kill bacteria.

Chill: Cold temperatures prevent bacteria from multiplying. Refrigerate foods as soon as possible.

USDA knows that your family is important to you, and that you would do anything 

to protect them.

Follow this foodborne illness prevention guide. For more information on food safety call toll free 

1-888-674-6854 where you will be assisted in your language or visit our Web site at 

www.fsis.usda.gov/En_Espanol.

The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

June 2006

United States Department of Agriculture

Food Safety and Inspection Service

1

2

3

4

1. Clean

2. Separate

3. Cook

4. Chill

Clean Separate Cook Chill

Internal cooking temperatures
1. Sometimes, queso fresco might not be pasteurized 

and could contain Listeria, which could be very 

dangerous for pregnant women and for people with 

weakened immune systems. Make sure to buy only 

queso fresco that will specify on the label “made 

with pasteurized milk.”

2. Bacteria can grow in your refrigerator if it is not 

kept at 40 oF or below. Use an appliance thermometer and frequently check the temperature in your 

refrigerator. If the thermometer registers a temperature too high (above 40 oF), adjust the dial of the 

refrigerator.

3. Raw food could contaminate other foods. Separate 

raw meat and poultry from vegetables and cooked 

foods.

4. Wash your hands with warm water and soap before 

and after touching food and after using the bathroom, changing diapers, or having contact with 

your pet.

Bacterial Growth - a hidden danger

(La propagación de las bacterias- un peligro escondido)

Cleanliness is Important

(La limpieza es importante)

We sweep and mop floors and vacuum carpets when 

they are dirty in order to make the house look clean.

The kitchen surfaces will look clean but they can 

contain a multitude of bacteria so small that they 

can’t be seen.

Wash your hands with soap and warm water 

before and after handling food and after using the 

bathroom, changing diapers, or handling pets.

Wash kitchen utensils and cooking surfaces with 

hot water and soap.

Rinse fruits and vegetables thoroughly before 

handling them or serving them raw.

Refrigerate Food

(Refrigere las comidas)

A very cold glass of horchata can revive your soul on 

a very hot day of summer, refresh you and make you 

feel alive.

Cool temperatures are very important for food also.

Keeping food in the refrigerator at a safe temperature prevents the spread of bacteria.

Refrigeration tips:

(Recomendaciones de Refrigeración )

 Maintain your refrigerator temperature at 

40 °F or below.

 Maintain your freezer temperature at 0 °F 

or below.

 Place leftovers in shallow containers so they 

can cool down fast after putting them into the 

refrigerator.

 Never thaw frozen food at room temperature. 

Defrost food in the refrigerator, submerged in 

cold water, or in the microwave.

Use the thermometer

(Use el termómetro)

You use a thermometer to ensure your

child does not have a fever. You know it is

insufficient merely to touch his or her

forehead.

Temperature is also very important for foods.

Meats and other food should be cooked to a safe

minimum internal temperature to kill any bacteria 

they might contain.

Use a food thermometer to make sure your food

has reached the safe minimum internal

temperature. You will feel confident that there

is less danger for foodborne illness.

1. Could contain listeria

4. Wash your hands

2. Bacterial growth 3. Crosscontamination