PREGNANCY & FOOD SAFETY

BE FOOD SAFE

Any season is the time for BBQ's, picnics and... food poisoning. Around 119,000 Kiwis suffer from food-borne diseases every year. If you're pregnant, you need to make doubly sure the food you eat is safe, because food poisoning can sometimes harm your unborn baby.

Stick with these six rules to avoid food poisoning:

1. Wash and dry hands thoroughly with soap before and after handling food, before eating, after using the toilet, changing nappies or handling animals.
2. Rinse fruit and vegetables well before eating and check "best before" dates on food.
3. Serve hot food hot, and cold food cold. Always reheat leftovers until they're piping hot right through. Most bacteria are killed at 100°C and grow really well between 15°C and 51°C. Never reheat food more than once and use cooked foods within two days.
4. Cook all food, especially chicken, thoroughly, particularly when using the BBQ.
5. Refrigerate leftovers promptly. Don't leave food and drink lying around in the heat over prolonged meal times, especially outdoors. Store in covered, insect-proof containers. Don't thaw frozen foods and meat on the bench - defrost them in the fridge, in warm water or in the microwave.
6. Keep raw and prepared foods separate during preparation and storage. Store prepared foods above raw foods in the fridge and have separate chopping boards for each. Wash boards, utensils and surfaces with hot soapy water between handling raw and ready-to-eat foods.