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For Immediate Release Thursday, June 22, 2006
Food Preparation Key to Avoiding Foodborne Illnesses
DENVER—Consumer protection experts from the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment’s Consumer Protection
Division Tuesday urged Coloradans to prepare their food carefully during
Fourth of July celebrations and throughout the rest of the summer to
prevent foodborne illnesses.
Jeff Lawrence, retail food program manager for the
department’s Consumer Protection Division, said, “Whether you’re hosting
a barbecue or just cooking for yourself, please remember to prepare and
store food carefully.
“Too many people become ill unnecessarily because of
improperly prepared food or food that has been cross-contaminated.”
Lawrence provided the following food safety tips for a
healthy summer barbecue:
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Buy a thermometer and use it when cooking. Thoroughly
cook all ground beef until it reaches an internal temperature of 155
degrees Fahrenheit. Cook all chicken to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If
this is done, E. coli bacteria, which can cause severe intestinal
illness, are killed.
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Keep all cold foods at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
Do not keep foods containing meat, milk, eggs, fish or poultry at room
temperature for more than four hours.
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Make it a practice to thoroughly clean with hot, soapy
water, rinse with clean water and sanitize cutting boards, knives and
other utensils before and after preparing raw foods and foods that do
not require further cooking. A sanitizing solution can be prepared
using one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water.
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Always wash hands with hot soapy water for at least 20
seconds after using the bathroom, changing diapers, sneezing,
coughing, or eating, drinking or smoking. Also, wash hands between
handling raw food and food that will not be cooked further,
particularly when raw meat or poultry is involved.
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Dispose of any food product that has been recalled. If
instructed, return any recalled product to the retailer where the item
was purchased.
For more information about food safety, call the Colorado Department
of Public Health and Environment’s Consumer Protection Division at
303-692-3620.
For more information:
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