To avoid food being contaminated by pathogens, practice good hygiene when preparing and eating food. Wash all food and cooking equipment before using it. Make sure you wash your hands before working with food or eating. Keep foods refrigerated. Your refrigerator should be at 40°F (4°C) or below. Refrigerate fresh foods as soon as you get home from grocery shopping. The CDC recommends refrigerating leftovers within 2 hours of cooking. Keep raw meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood away from other foods. Don’t store them in the same container. Use separate cutting boards for raw meats. Cook meat, seafood, eggs, and poultry at the right temperature to kill bacteria. Discard food that has been left out for too long. Avoid drinking contaminated water. When hiking, camping, or traveling to unfamiliar regions, be sure to check that the water you’re drinking is safe.