Cross-contamination is the spread of bacteria from people to food or from one food or piece of equipment to another. To help prevent it, in addition to cleanliness, it’s important to separate foods – particularly to separate raw meat, fish, seafood and poultry from other foods, especially ready-to-eat foods.
At the supermarket, select perishable foods last. Separate raw meat, fish, seafood and poultry from eggs and other foods in your grocery cart. At home, refrigerate raw shell eggs in their cartons in the coldest part of the refrigerator, away from any meats that might drip juices or any produce that might come into contact with eggshells. Cover or wrap well any egg mixtures or leftover cooked egg dishes before refrigerating.
With hot, soapy water, thoroughly wash any bowl, pan, blender or other container which has held a raw egg mixture before you use it again for more eggs or another food. Do the same with any container that has held raw meat, fish, seafood or poultry. Also use separate cutting boards for raw meat, fish, seafood, poultry and other foods, particularly cooked and ready-to-eat foods. Thoroughly wash and sanitize work surfaces, cutting boards and utensils, such as beaters, after each use.
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