Watch out for food poisoning

About half of food poisoning cases are caused by mishandling food at home.

Warnings come as summer brings on more picnics and barbecues.

Foodborne illness can have long-term effects and be serious for the very young and the elderly.

Always wash hands before handling any food, wash utensils and scrub chopping boards between preparing raw and cooked food.

Defrost frozen foods thoroughly in the fridge or microwave before cooking.

Keep raw meat and poultry covered in the bottom of the fridge and away from ready-to-eat food. Marinate food in the fridge, not on the bench top.

Clean out the fridge so air can circulate and ensure the temperature is set between two and four degrees.

Don’t let leftovers sit too long. As soon as steam stops rising, refrigerate or freeze.

Throw out perishable items left out for more than four hours.

Enter the draw for great prizes at www.foodsafe.org.nz during November.

- © Fairfax NZ News