Grocery shopping can be a hectic experience, rushing to pick up dinner for the night or walking through the aisles with your whole family in tow. It’s also easy to get distracted by sales and samples.
But without the proper care and handling of food, you could be putting yourself and your family at risk of food-related illness, which is caused by eating foods contaminated with bacteria like E. coli and salmonella. Most people recover completely, but some – such as pregnant women, children under five, older adults and those with weakened immune systems – can be affected more seriously.
Here are some quick tips for safer grocery shopping:
- Buy cold or frozen food at the end of your trip.
- Keep your raw meat, poultry, fish and seafood away from other food in your grocery cart.
- Put packages of raw meat in separate plastic bags to keep juices from leaking onto other foods.
- Examine fruits and vegetables carefully, and avoid buying items that are bruised or damaged.
- If you use reusable grocery bags or bins, be sure to have a specific bag or bin for meat, poultry or seafood. Label each with the type of food it carries and wash it often, especially if you use it for carrying raw meat, poultry or seafood.
Find more information at canada.ca/foodsafety
