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food safety: serving

overview

you can help prevent food poisoning by taking precautions when serving food.

  • keep hot foods hot [60°c (140°f) or above] and cold foods cold [4°c (40°f) or below].
  • never leave meat, poultry, eggs, fish, or shellfish (raw or cooked) at room temperature for more than 2 hours. if the temperature outdoors is above 32°c (90°f), refrigerate within 1 hour. (this is often the case during summer picnics.)
  • chill leftovers as soon as you finish eating.
  • store leftovers in small, shallow containers to cool rapidly.
  • do not reheat food that is contaminated. reheating does not make it safe.
  • if you are not sure how long a food has been in the refrigerator, throw it out.
  • if you are not sure whether a food is safe, throw it out.

when you eat out, be sure that meat is cooked thoroughly and that foods that should be refrigerated, such as puddings and cold cuts, are served cold. also pay attention to the restaurant environment. if the tables, dinnerware, and washrooms look dirty, the kitchen may be too.

credits

current as of: june 12, 2023

author: healthwise staff
clinical review board
all healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

this information does not replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise, incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. your use of this information means that you agree to the terms of use. learn how we develop our content.

this information does not replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise, incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. your use of this information means that you agree to the terms of use and privacy policy. to learn more about healthwise, visit healthwise.org. © 1995-2022 healthwise, incorporated. healthwise, healthwise for every health decision, and the healthwise logo are trademarks of healthwise, incorporated.

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