The basic rules of food safety at home

Preparing food at home becomes an important issue when you are pregnant.

• Choose foods carefully from shops with a high standard of cleanliness and with a high turnover of food so you know what you buy is fresh
• Wash raw vegetables and store them away from other foods
• Wrap or cover raw meat and store well away from other foods
• Store eggs away from other foods
• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before preparing food
• Keep all food preparation surfaces and equipment spotlessly clean
• Keep animals well away from where you prepare food
• Wash all fruit and vegetables before use including pre-packed produce
• Wash hands, knives and other equipment well after preparing raw meat. Use a separate chopping board for raw meat
• Destroy any germs in food by cooking thoroughly
• Cook meat and poultry thoroughly. Make a small cut to check the meat is completely cooked - there should be no pink meat or blood visible and the juices that trickle out should be clear
• Once food is cooked, eat quickly and do not re-heat
• Cool foods quickly and store food well chilled

Reviewed by the babyworld midwife