Inform yourself.
- Read the labels when buying and preparing food
- Familiarize yourself with the dangerous microbiological and chemical agents in your region
- Learn how to take care when preparing specific foods, which can be dangerous if not handled properly (e.g. raw chicken, tapioca-root, etc.)
- Learn how to prepare and store food from other cultures that you are not familiar with (e.g. sushi)
Handle, store and prepare food safely
- Practice WHO’s Five Keys to Safer Food when handling and preparing food (keep clean – separate raw and cooked food – cook thoroughly – cook food at safe temperatures – use safe water and raw materials).
- Avoid overcooking when frying, grilling or baking foods as this may produce toxic chemicals.
- In your kitchen, store chemical products in a safe place.
- Do not re-use containers that were initially used to store chemicals to store food.
- Practice safe food handling when selling food at markets.
- Practice WHO’s Five Keys to Growing Safer Fruits and Vegetables (practice good personal hygiene – protect fields from animal faecal contamination – use treated faecal waste – evaluate and manage risks from irrigation water – keep harvest and storage equipment clean and dry) to decrease microbial contamination when growing fruits and vegetables for your family or community
Teach healthy practices to others in your community
Make safe/wise choices
- Take particular care in preparing food for pregnant women, children, the elderly and the sick (those with a weakened immune system)
- When eating food from street vendors or buffets in hotels and restaurants, make sure that cooked food is not in contact with raw food that could contaminate it.
- Make sure the food you eat is prepared and kept in good hygienic conditions (clean, cooked thoroughly, and kept at the right temperature, i.e. hot or refrigerated/on ice)
- When shopping, keep raw meat, poultry, fish and shellfish away from your basket or your grocery cart and use separate bags for transportation
- When visiting food markets, be aware that live animals can transmit a number of diseases. Avoid handling or coming into close contact with these animals.
- When there is any doubt about the safety of drinking water, boil or treat it before drinking.
Enjoy eating food
- Make safe food a top priority to prevent foodborne diseases, protect the health of your family and community, and be confident about the safety of the food you eat.
- Eating safe, nutritious, healthy food provides everyone with the energy they need to enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle.
- Eating brings us together. Celebrate with safe, healthy, nutritious food.
- Food allows us to learn, have new experiences and appreciation for other cultures.
- Food, cooking, and eating play a central role in every culture.
