Food Safety Information for Consumers
Safety Tips to Avoid Food-borne Illness
- Wash your hands and surfaces often and wash utensils, cutting boards, and countertops with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item.
- Keep raw meat—like turkey—separate from other foods. That means using separate cooking utensils, too. The juices from raw meat may contain bacteria that make people sick.
- Every part of meat should be cooked thoroughly. Use a thermometer to make sure it reaches the right temperature (see Cook Hot) to avoid foodborne illness.
- Your stuffing is ready to serve once it reaches 165°F. Anything colder may lead to foodborne illness.
- Bacteria lives in the “danger zone” of 40°F to 140°F. Refrigerate your leftovers within 2 hours of serving to prevent bacteria from growing.
Cook Hot!
- 165° poultry & leftovers
- 160° ground beef
- 150° pork
- 145° eggs
- 140° beef
Use a food thermometer to ensure foods are cooked to a safe internal temperature. Learn how to place the thermometer correctly in different food to get an accurate reading.
Store Cold!
- 40° refrigerator temperature
- 0° to -10° freezer temperature
Refrigerate perishable food within 2 hours. If the food is exposed to temperatures above 90°F, refrigerate it within 1 hour.
Thaw frozen food safely in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave. Never thaw food on the counter because bacteria multiply quickly in the parts of the food that reach room temperature.
The New York State Department of Health has developed food safety guidance for consumers.
Foodborne Illness Complaints
Contact your local health department to report a foodborne illness complaint.
Emergencies and Natural Disasters
- Weather Emergencies: Storms, Floods, and Power Outages - Advice including food supplies to have in reserve before these events, food storage and cooking during the event, and deciding what food is good and what should be tossed after the event.
- Dry Ice: What Is It? - Here are some tips on using dry ice safely to keep food cold, and how much you'll need.
Food Safety at Home
- Barbecue Food Safety Tips - Here are some tips to avoid food poisoning caused by germs growing too quickly in the summer heat.
- Fish: Health Advice on Eating Fish You Catch - Advice for safe fish consumption in New York State by type of fish and location where fish were caught, and best practices to prepare and cook fish and game.
- Food Cooking and Storage Magnet
- Safe Storage and Preparation of Eggs & Foods Made With Eggs
- Raw Milk: The Dangers of Drinking Raw Milk
- Reusable Grocery Bags: A Smart Choice But Play It Safe - Tips on reducing the spread of germs when using reusable storage bags.
