Prevent Cross-Contamination - MN Dept. of Health (2024)

Contact Info

Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division

651-201-5414

Contact Info

Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division

651-201-5414

Cross-contamination is the physical movement or transfer of harmful bacteria from one person, object or place to another. Preventing cross-contamination is a key factor in preventing foodborne illness.

Minnesota Department of Health Consumer Fact Sheet
Revised April, 2007
Prevent Cross-Contamination - MN Dept. of Health (1)

On this page:
When shopping
When refrigerating food
When preparing food
When serving food
More about cross contamination

When shopping:

  • Separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood from other foods in your grocery-shopping cart.
  • Place these foods in plastic bags to prevent their juices from dripping onto other foods.
  • It is also best to separate these foods from other foods at check out and in your grocery bags.

When refrigerating food:

  • Place raw meat, poultry, and seafood in containers or sealed plastic bags to prevent their juices from dripping onto other foods. Raw juices often contain harmful bacteria.
  • Store eggs in their original carton and refrigerate as soon as possible.

When preparing food:

Keep it clean:

  • Wash hands and surfaces often. Harmful bacteria can spread throughout the kitchen and get onto cutting boards, utensils, and counter tops. To prevent this:
  • Wash hands with soap and hot water before and after handling food, and after using the bathroom, changing diapers; or handling pets.
  • Use hot, soapy water and paper towels or clean cloths to wipe up kitchen surfaces or spills. Wash cloths often in the hot cycle of your washing machine.
  • Wash cutting boards, dishes, and counter tops with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item and before you go on to the next item.

Cutting boards:

  • Always use a clean cutting board.
  • If possible, use one cutting board for fresh produce and a separate one for raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
  • Once cutting boards become excessively worn or develop hard-to-clean grooves, you should replace them.

Marinating food:

  • Always marinate food in the refrigerator, not on the counter.
  • Sauce that is used to marinate raw meat, poultry, or seafood should not be used on cooked foods, unless it is boiled just before using.

Fruits and vegetables:

  • Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables in running tap water to remove visible dirt and grime.
  • Remove and discard the outermost leaves of a head of lettuce or cabbage.
  • Because bacteria can grow well on the cut surface of fruit or vegetables, be careful not to contaminate these foods while slicing them up on the cutting board, and avoid leaving cut produce at room temperature for many hours.

When serving food:

  • Always use a clean plate.
  • Never place cooked food back on the same plate or cutting board that previously held raw food.

More about cross contamination

  • Food Contamination
    Food becomes contaminated through a variety of mechanisms. Some things that can contribute to foodborne illness are: inadequate handwashing, cross-contamination, storage and cooking temperatures, and contamination of food by animal waste
  • 5 Common Ways Germs are Spread
    Poster teaching about cross contamination.
  • USDA: Keep Foods Safe! Food Safety Basics
    Safe steps in food handling, cooking, and storage are essential in preventing foodborne illness.

Last Updated: 02/06/2023

Prevent Cross-Contamination - MN Dept. of Health (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to avoid cross contamination answer? ›

Keep it clean:

Wash hands and surfaces often. Harmful bacteria can spread throughout the kitchen and get onto cutting boards, utensils, and counter tops. To prevent this: Wash hands with soap and hot water before and after handling food, and after using the bathroom, changing diapers; or handling pets.

What is the best way to avoid cross contamination quiz? ›

1. Which is a good way to prevent cross-contamination while cooking?
  • Put your foods in separate bags.
  • Put cooked food back onto plates that had raw food on them.
  • Wash your hands frequently.
  • Use the same cooking utensils for different foods.

Which 6 measures will prevent cross contamination? ›

You can avoid food poisoning and keep yourself and others in your household safe by:
  • preparing food hygienically.
  • not washing raw meat, fish and poultry.
  • washing fruit and vegetables.
  • storing food properly.
  • cleaning recyclable plastics carefully.
  • using shopping bags safely.
  • cleaning any reusable containers properly.

What are 4 safety steps to avoid cross contamination? ›

You can help keep your family safe from food poisoning at home by following these four simple steps: clean, separate, cook and, chill.

What are 3 practices are used to help reduce cross contamination? ›

Some ways to help prevent cross contamination include: use separate utensils or thoroughly wash and sanitise utensils between handling raw and ready-to-eat foods. keep food covered and off the floor during storage. avoid any unnecessary touching of food.

How do you prevent cross contamination according to Servsafe? ›

Here are some ways to prevent cross-contamination: Use separate equipment for each type of food. Clean and sanitize all work surfaces, equipment, and utensils after each task. Prep raw meat, fish, and poultry; and ready-to-eat food at different times.

What is the best way to prevent cross contamination in Quizlet? ›

To prevent cross-contamination, use separate equipment for each type of food. Also, you must clean and sanitize all works surfaces, equipment, and utensil after each task.

What activity would best prevent cross contamination? ›

The easiest way to prevent cross contamination is by properly washing hands before cooking and in between tasks and by keeping raw foods and ready to eat foods separated. Use separate equipment for each type of food.

Can you tell if food is still safe to-eat by smelling it? ›

FALSE: You can't tell if a food is contaminated with harmful bacteria by looking at it, smelling it or tasting it.

What types of food should never come into contact with each other? ›

Raw food must be kept separate from cooked and ready-to-eat food. Raw food may contain bacteria, which causes food poisoning. Cross-contamination happens when cooked or ready-to-eat food contacts raw food. Raw food should always be stored below ready-to-eat or cooked food in refrigerators and display cabinets.

What is the biggest cause of cross-contamination? ›

Common vehicles of contamination include food-preparation surfaces, chopping and cutting boards, knives and utensils, cloths and hands. Raw food dripping on to cooked food can also cause contamination. This often happens in the fridge where food is uncovered and raw food is placed above cooked food.

What should you wear to prevent cross-contamination? ›

Require your kitchen staff to wear aprons and headwear to protect food from outside contaminants carried on the body or clothes. To best keep hands free from contamination, have employees wear disposable gloves and make sure that gloves are changed when an employee begins handling a new food or material.

What is the most basic way to prevent cross contamination? ›

How to avoid cross contamination
  1. Avoid purchasing food close to its expiration date, unless you intend to eat it right away.
  2. Store raw meat in a sealed container or plastic bag on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator to prevent juices from leaking onto other foods.
  3. Use separate grocery bags for raw meat and eggs.
Jan 21, 2020

What do OSHA standards require in order to prevent cross contamination? ›

Gloves or other PPE shall be worn to prevent exposure when handling or disinfecting contaminated equipment, PPE or clothing. Employees shall wash their hands, (or other skin surfaces) after removing or handling PPE, or other coverings which were used to protect against contact with blood or OPIM.

Can you store raw meat and fish together? ›

Raw meat, poultry and fish should be stored in the following top-to-bottom order in the refrigerator: whole fish, whole cuts of beef and pork, ground meats and fish, and whole and ground poultry. Wrap food properly before storing it. Leaving food uncovered can lead to cross- contamination.

What is the best way to avoid cross contamination in 360 training? ›

Use separate cutting boards, knives, and utensils for raw meats, poultry, seafood, and ready-to-eat foods. If reusing utensils, wash and sanitize them thoroughly between each use. Clean and sanitize food contact surfaces, equipment, and utensils regularly to prevent cross-contamination.

What is the best way to avoid cross contamination in Quizlet? ›

What are some examples to prevent cross-contamination ? Wash your hands, use separate equipment, clean and sanitize all work surfaces, change out gloves when needed, etc.

What is the best way to avoid cross contamination brainly? ›

Expert-Verified Answer

Separate: When storing and preparing food, keep raw meat, poultry, shellfish, and eggs apart from other ingredients. For raw and cooked meals, use different cutting boards, knives, and plates to avoid the spread of any potentially hazardous germs.

Which practice best avoids cross contamination while prepping food? ›

Tips to avoid cross-contamination
  • Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before handling food. ...
  • Wash kitchen surfaces with soap and water before placing food on them. ...
  • Use separate cutting boards and utensils for all of your foods whenever possible.
  • Cook foods to a safe temperature.

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