To avoid cross-contamination, wash cutting boards, knives, plates, counters and hands in hot soapy water after use with raw animal foods. Countertops, sinks, utensils, dishes, can openers and cutting boards are other areas in the kitchen that may come in contact with bacteria-containing foods and then transfer them to other foods. Clean these before you start food preparation and between steps of preparation. Although cooking generally kills bacteria, many times cooked foods are re-contaminated by placing them back on the same plate or tray the raw food was on. This source of contamination can be avoided by using a clean plate to carry foods from the range or grill to the table.
Bacteria are everywhere and food contamination can occur at almost any time.
We can, however, reduce the risks of illness from the foods we eat by simply paying attention to how food is handled and following some simple steps for cleanliness.