WORLDWIDE FOOD SERVICE SAFETY MONTH
Worldwide Food Service Safety Month is an annual designation observed in December. The goals of this month are to focus on keeping food safe as it’s prepared in the service industry, as well as reminding us to be safe and cook properly when we are making our own food at home. This month, the holidays are in full swing; so what better a time than now to practice safety while cooking?
Did you know more than 200 diseases are spread through food alone? One in ten people become sick every year from eating contaminated food, and 420,000 people are killed from these illnesses every year. These types of illnesses can cause long-term health problems if they don’t kill you, so it’s very important to be adamant about consuming safely prepared food. Children younger than 5 years old are at the highest risk. The good news is, proper food preparation can prevent almost all foodborne illnesses. Remember, everyone has a role in keeping food safe. It’s a shared responsibility among the government, producers, food service industries, and consumers.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Use #WorldwideFoodServiceSafetyMonth (we know, it’s long) to post on social media about how you are participating in WFSSM. Here are some food hygiene tips for next time you’re cooking a meal at home.
- Wash your hands with warm water and soap before handling food and make sure you thoroughly wash them again when you’re done.
- If you have any cuts on your fingers, hands, or wrists, cover them with bandages before handling food.
- Thoroughly wash your fruits and veggies with clean, warm water before use.
- Make sure your cooked foods are separate from raw foods to avoid harmful bacteria cross-contamination.
- Use fresh utensils when switching from raw meat to other foods during preparation.
- Regularly wash your dishcloths and towels in the kitchen using hot water to keep as clean as possible.
- Do not undercook your meat. Use a thermometer to make sure you get it right!
HISTORY
Worldwide Food Service Safety Month has been recognized since December 1994 to remind everyone that food safety is crucial when cooking for others and ourselves.