Never leave meat out all day to thaw or serve leftover foods that have been left out all night. This is when a food was either not kept cold or hot enough and was at the right temperature for bacteria to grow and reproduce. When thawing foods, it is best to place them on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator in a pan or bowl to catch the juice, the night before preparation. Leftover foods also should be stored promptly after the meal in a sealed container and heated thoroughly when eaten at a later time. When kids have leftovers for lunch, make sure that the food is no more than three days old.
Food Keeping perishable foods at safe temperatures is just the beginning.
Cooking fish, poultry, eggs and meat thoroughly is very important. Using utensils to handle food instead of your hands is another way to avoid spreading germs. Washing fresh fruits and vegetables before serving is essential to avoid getting sick from the chemicals that may have been sprayed on them for preservation. It also important to inspect canned foods and avoid those that are bulging or are dented. These foods could contain the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which is very dangerous.