At times, we tend to take food safety norms for granted. We tend to overlook and ignore the basic food safety and hygiene guidelines because we do not have the time or are too preoccupied to follow these little tips. This neglect sometimes results in bouts of food poisoning. Learn tips for keeping food poisoning under control with our brief guide on how to avoid food poisoning at home.      

 
Wash hands properly:  
As children most of us were admonished if we sat at the dining table without washing our hands first. As grownups,we are so pressed for time that these  childhood instructions seem time consuming. Most of us are always in a rush to reach somewhere and take-away food is the best way to save some precious minutes. In our hurry,  we tend to forget to wash our hands before digging in. Or sometimes we are in so much of a hurry to cook the evening meal that washing hands is the least of our worries. But eating food with dirty hands is one of the most common reasons for getting food poisoning. So, take out those extra seconds and make it a point to wash your hands before you eat or cook food.
 
Cook your food properly:
Although it may seem like an unnecessary extravaganza, a food thermometer is a must in every kitchen for cooking meat. All the meats should be cooked at a minimum of 145 degrees Farenheit, and the only way to determine if the right temperature has been reached is by using a food thermometer. Uncooked food has harmful bacteria which cause food poisoning. Always ensure that the thickest part of the meat has reached the desired temperature to decide whether the meat has been cooked well.
 
Don’t put raw meat and cooked meat together:
Take care to avoid any cross-contamination of food. Always store cooked meat in a separate container from the raw meat. Always wash your hands and knife first if you have just used them for cutting meat and are planning to use them for chopping vegetables or fruits.

Avoid eating eggs raw:
Always eat your eggs cooked. Raw eggs may contain the salmonella bacteria which is a common cause of food poisoning across people of all ages. To avoid any salmonella poisoning, always cook your eggs and poultry well. The bacteria are usually present on the shell of the eggs. Never crack your egg on the rim of a bowl which has other food items.
 
Thoroughly wash your fruits and vegetables:
Always wash your vegetables and fruits thoroughly. Scrub them gently on all sides until the fruits become squeaky clean. Refrigerate the foods immediately after washing and  after draining the excess water. This would prevent any bacterial growth and would kill any illness causing bacteria.
 
Follow these simple tips and keep food poisoning at bay.