Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Vale of White Horse District Council

Food hygiene advice

Buying food

• Always buy food from reputable suppliers, and ensure that any high risk food (for example meat, fish or egg products) is taken home without undue delay.

Storing food

• Put food in the appropriate storage area as soon as you arrive home
• In the refrigerator store cooked (prepared) food above uncooked (raw/ unprepared) food
• Store food in clean covered containers
• Do not leave food in opened cans.

Preparing food

• Defrost frozen food in a cool place (for example the refridgerator)
• Ensure that frozen food is thoroughly deforsted before use
• Do not use the same chopping board for raw food and then for cooked or ready-to-eat food, and wash chopping boards after use.

Cooking food

• Cook all food thoroughly especially chicken, mince, burgers and sausages.

Storing cooked food

• Ensure that cooked food is cool before putting it in a refrigerator
• Cover food before storing (for example place in a suitable clean container)

Reheating cooked food

• Never re-heat food more than once
• Always reheat food thoroughly.

Serving food

• Serve hot food as soon as it’s ready, or keep it hot in a hot cabinet.
• Cold food should be kept cold, care should be taken in hot weather do not leave cold food in a hot room for any significant length of time.

General tips

• Keep insects and pets away from food preparation rooms
• Do not feed animals in the kitchen
• Wash your hands before starting to prepare food
• Wash your hand after handling raw food
• Wash your hands after handling pet food and their dishes, stroking animals, handling nappies
• Wash your hands after using the toilet
• Keep your hands clean and do not wear jewellery (with the exception of a wedding ring) – germs love to hide under such items.

For more advice see the Food Standards Agency leaflet Preventing food poisoning – good hygiene at home, which can be downloaded from the right of the page, or see the Food Standards Agency website.

Please note that the above advice is provided to assist members of the public and businesses, but it is the responsibility of each individual (and each food business operator) to ensure that they are aware of the correct food hygiene procedures relating to their food handling actitivies.