September is National Food Safety Education Month (FSEM). It’s a great time to focus on key illness prevention steps, such as avoiding cross-contamination in your kitchen. Raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs can spread germs to ready-to-eat foods, like salads or food that is already cooked.

Children enrolled in our programs are provided nutritious meals that are prepared on-site by staff who follow safe food preparation and serving practices to ensure that the food we serve the children contributes to their overall health.  A healthy child is ready to play, and play is learning.

Here are four tips the CDC recommends for food safety that everyone can follow:

Clean: Wash your hands and surfaces often.

Separate: Don’t cross-contaminate.

Cook to the right temperature.

Chill: Refrigerate promptly.

More information can be found on Four Steps to Food Safety | CDC