Kitchen Food & Safety
By: Wafia Raza
Preventing Kitchen Accident
As you know there are many accidents that can occur in the kitchen with electricity, sharp objects, heat, water, cleaning products/chemicals, fires etc. Below I've listen some things that can help you prevent these kitchen accidents:
- Store all cleaning products/chemicals away from food & children (store in separate cabinet)
- Clean up ALL spills from the floor, counter etc. to prevent slips,falls and other injuries
- Use a step stool to reach for items placed in high places
- Keep all electrical cords away from water, stove, sinks etc.
- Make sure pot handles are facing inward when on the stove
- Tie back long hair
- Don't wear loose long sleeves while cooking
- Make sure ALL electrical equipment is unplugged/ turned off before cleaning
- Make sure all electrical equipment is neatly stored away after use
- Use oven mitts
- DO NOT go near steam
- NEVER leave cooking food unattended
- Keep all cloths, papers,towels etc away from stove
- Keep a fire blanket, extinguisher and baking soda near by in case of fire
- Keep children away while cooking
- Never mix cleaning products together
- Always use a spoon to taste food
- Never leave candles unattended
- Choose a good size pot to cook in because it could cause overflow of liquids and other foods
- Use a cutting board
- Turn off all burners after use
- Dry you hands before touching any electrical equipment
- Keep metal utensils out of toaster
- Store knives separately
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY
Whether its a fire, bleeding, choking etc. it can happen any time! so make sure you know what to do.
- CALL 911
- STAY CALM ( don't panic )
- IF YOU OR SOMEONE IS ON FIRE COVER THEM IN A FIRE BLANKET
- IF SOMEONE IS HAVING AN ALLERGIC REACTION USE AN EPI-PEN
FOODBORNE ILLNESS
A Foodborne Illness is a sickness resulting from eating food that is not safe to eat cause by bacteria & toxins they produce. You cant tell if your food is contaminated because you cant they cant be seen and they have no taste (such as the stomach flu)
CONDITIONS THAT PROMOTE GROWTH
F - food - bacteria needs food to grow like moist & protein rich foods such as meat, milk, eggs and fish
A - acidity - bacteria likes to live in a pH range between 6.6 and 7.5
T - time - the longer that bacteria stays in a warm moist environment the quicker the bacteria will grow
T - temperature - bacteria like a a warm environment
O - oxygen - bacteria needs oxygen to grow (which is why canned food doesn't have bacteria)
M - moisture - bacteria grows best in moist environment
PREVENTING FOODBORNE ILLNESS'S
- Proper hand washing
- Clean all cutting boards, utensils, counter tops and foods
- Rinse all fruits & vegetables
- Cross-Contamination is how bacteria can be spread. when handling meat, poultry, seafood and eggs keep their juices away from ready to eat foods
- Cook properly
- Refrigerate Foods
- Stomach Cramps
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Chills
(infants, young kids, pregnant women, people with weak immune systems have a greater risk) Call Peel Public Health 905-799-7700