© Shutterstock

Tips - Here are some top tips to ensure that neither you or your loved ones are put at risk of food poisoning.

© Shutterstock

Wash your hands - It may sound obvious, but washing your hands is critically important. Do it before preparing food, and after touching raw meat, eggs, etc.

© Shutterstock

Clean surfaces thoroughly - Make sure that your surfaces are cleaned thoroughly, both before and after preparing food. This is even more important if raw meat or fish is being prepared.

© Shutterstock

Wash hand and dish towels - It is very important to regularly wash hand and dish towels. This becomes even more important if they stay damp for long periods of time. Damp conditions are a breeding ground for bacteria.

© Shutterstock

Use separate cutting boards - It is advisable to keep a separate cutting board for raw meat and fish. Best also to avoid wooden chopping boards, as they are harder to clean and dry.

© Shutterstock

Keep raw meat separate - It is critically important to keep raw meat separate from other foods, especially foods that don't require cooking. If bacteria spreads, and the food isn't cooked, it won't be killed.

© Shutterstock

Store raw meat on the bottom shelf - It is always advisable to store raw meat at the bottom of your refrigerator. This will ensure that no meat juices can drip onto food underneath.

© Shutterstock

Cook meat thoroughly - Ensure that meat is cooked thoroughly, and that no pink color remains inside once it is cooked. This is essential to minimizing food poisoning risks.

© Shutterstock

Keep your refrigerator below 5ºC (41ºF) - It is important to make sure your food is stored at the correct temperature. Also, try not to overload your refrigerator, as this can affect the overall temperature due to lack of air flow.

© Shutterstock

Cool leftovers quickly - Ensure that anything that won't be eaten the same day is stored quickly, and certainly within 90 minutes. It's not recommended to consume leftovers after 48 hours.

© Shutterstock

Don't ignore use-by dates - Food may appear to be OK after its expiration date, but the dates are there for a reason. Don't take the risk, especially in regards to meat, fish, eggs, or dairy.

© Shutterstock

Don't prepare food for others if you're ill - Even if your hands are clean, you don't want to be coughing and sneezing everywhere while you're preparing food for other people. This could make them just as ill as you!

© Shutterstock

Wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly - Fruits and vegetables can contain a lot of unpleasant bacteria, therefore it is essential to wash them thoroughly. They may also have traces of pesticides.

© Shutterstock

Do not wash chicken! - Some people think that washing meat is a good idea. This is wrong! It doesn't remove bacteria, and it may spread it to your sink and surfaces.

© Shutterstock

Defrost in the refrigerator - It can be very dangerous to defrost food, especially meat and fish, at room temperature. Harmful bacteria can spread very quickly.

© Shutterstock

Do not taste food to see if it's still OK! - It is not a good idea to taste food you suspect to be bad. If it has gone bad, just a small quantity could make you very ill. Don't take the chance!

© Shutterstock

Risky foods - Food poisoning may come from a huge variety of foods, but some are far riskier than others. Here are a few of the foods to be extra cautious with. 

© Shutterstock

Poultry - A huge amount of uncooked poultry contains campylobacter and it can also contain salmonella. The good news is that these bacteria are killed by thorough cooking.

© Shutterstock

Fish and shellfish - It is very easy for fish and shellfish to quickly become unsafe if they are not stored at the right temperature. Always throw away mussels, clams, oysters, etc., that don't open when cooked.

© Shutterstock

Rice - Rice can contain bacillus cereus, which won't necessarily be killed by cooking. The risk of food poisoning increases when cooked rice is left out at room temperature.

© Shutterstock

Deli meats - Deli meats can contain both listeria and staphylococcus aureus, both of which can make you very ill. Be extra cautious with meat from a deli counter, which is more likely to contain bacteria than pre-packaged deli meats.

© Shutterstock

Eggs - Eggs can often carry salmonella. Therefore, it is very important to ensure that they are thoroughly cooked before consuming. It is safer to avoid recipes that require raw eggs.

© Shutterstock

Unpasteurized cheese and milk - Pasteurization is an important process as it kills a huge number of bacteria, including listeria and salmonella. Avoiding unpasteurized dairy is the safest choice.

© Shutterstock

Sprouts - Sprouts grow in moist conditions, which can be a breeding ground for bacteria such as salmonella and listeria. Fortunately, cooking them can definitively reduce the risks of becoming ill.

© Shutterstock

Melon - While many fruits can contain bacteria, melon is especially risky as listeria can grow in the rind, making it hard to remove. It can then spread to the flesh of the fruit. A thorough washing is essential.

© Shutterstock

Salad - It is essential to wash fresh salad, of course, but bagged salad may be even more risky. It is often sold washed, but the environment in the bag can be a breeding ground for salmonella and other bacteria.

© Shutterstock

Flour - Bacteria can contaminate raw flour very easily. Therefore, it is important to wash your hands after touching raw flour, cook it thoroughly, and do not consume it raw!

© Shutterstock

Ground meat - Ground meat is processed, which makes it dangerous ground for bacteria. This is why it is important to thoroughly cook it.

© Shutterstock

Potato salad - Potato salad can be cross-contaminated from meat, cheese, etc., at deli counters. As it contains cooked potato, it is important to eat it before its use-by date.

© Shutterstock

Red kidney beans -

Red kidney beans contain a type of lectin, which is a protein, called phytohaemagglutinin. If this is not destroyed by thorough cooking, it can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

See also: Everyday foods you didn't know could kill you. 

© Shutterstock