Germs and Foodborne Illness
What tiny living things can spread sickness if they get on food?
Germs.
What does cross-contamination mean?
Germs spreading from one food or surface to another.
Where should milk be stored?
In the refrigerator.
Should you wash fruits before eating them?
Clean it up right away.
What should you wash before handling food?
Your hands.
What is it called when someone gets sick from eating unsafe food?
Foodborne illness.
Should raw meat touch ready-to-eat foods?
No. Raw meat can contain harmful germs. If it touches ready-to-eat food, those germs can spread and make someone sick. This is called cross-contamination.
Where should frozen vegetables be stored?
In the freezer.
What should you do if juice spills on the kitchen counter?
Clean it up right away.
Should raw meat and cooked food be stored together?
No. Raw meat can have harmful germs that can spread to cooked food and make someone sick. Keep raw meat separate from cooked and ready-to-eat foods to prevent cross-contamination.
Name one place where germs can spread in the kitchen.
Hands, countertops, cutting boards, utensils, sinks, or food. (Any one)
What should you use to keep raw meat and vegetables separate?
Separate cutting boards or clean utensils.
Where do canned foods belong?
In the pantry.
What does "sanitize" mean?
To clean something well enough to remove harmful germs.
Where should yogurt be stored?
In the refrigerator.
Why is food safety important?
It helps prevent people from getting sick.
What should you do after touching raw meat?
Wash your hands.
What should you check before eating packaged food to make sure it is still safe?
The expiration date or Best By date.
What kind of food should be kept cold while grocery shopping?
Perishable foods.
If a food package is past its expiration date and smells bad, what should you do?
Throw it away.
Who is more likely to become very sick from unsafe food?
Young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.
Why should you wash knives and cutting boards after cutting raw chicken?
To prevent germs from spreading to other foods.
What should you do if food smells bad or looks spoiled?
Throw it away.
What can you use to keep food cold when packing a lunch?
An ice pack or cooler.
Name three food safety habits that help stop germs from spreading.
Wash hands, keep foods separate, clean surfaces, refrigerate cold foods, throw away spoiled food, wash fruits and vegetables. (Any three)
Name two ways germs can spread while preparing food.
Dirty hands, dirty utensils, dirty counters, touching raw meat, coughing or sneezing near food. (Any two)
You cut raw chicken and then want to slice an apple. What should you do first?
Wash and sanitize the knife, cutting board, and your hands before cutting the apple.
Which foods usually need to stay cold? Name two.
Milk, eggs, meat, yogurt, cheese, leftovers, etc. (Any two)
Why should work areas be cleaned before and after preparing food?
To help prevent germs from spreading.
You are making a turkey sandwich. You touch the raw turkey package, wipe the counter, wash your hands, then use a clean knife to cut tomatoes. Did you handle the food safely?
Yes. You washed your hands after touching the turkey package and used a clean knife for the tomatoes. This helps stop germs from spreading and prevents cross-contamination.
You sneeze while making a sandwich. What should you do before touching the food again?
Wash your hands and make sure the food is safe to continue preparing.
A package of raw hamburger leaks onto a bag of lettuce while shopping. What food safety problem happened?
Cross-contamination.
You leave a carton of milk on the counter all afternoon. Should you put it back in the refrigerator or throw it away?
Throw it away because it may no longer be safe to drink.
You buy frozen food first, then continue shopping for another hour. What should you do before going home to keep it safe?
Place it in an insulated cooler with ice packs or go home soon after buying it.
During one meal, you washed your hands, used separate cutting boards, kept milk refrigerated, washed your apples, and threw away spoiled leftovers. Name all five food safety skills you used.