Food Safety Tips for Consumers & Retailers During an Outbreak of Foodborne Illness

Food Safety Tips for Consumers:

To keep protect against foodborne illness, people should, follow these four simple steps: clean, separate, cook, and chill.

People should consult their healthcare provider if they suspect that they have developed symptoms of foodborne illnesses like:

• Salmonellosis
• Listeriosis
• coli infections
• Hepatitis A infections
• Cyclosporiasis

Consumers should follow these steps for cleaning surfaces that may have been in contact with contaminated food:

• Wash the inside walls and shelves of the refrigerator, cutting boards and countertops, and utensils that may have contacted contaminated foods; then sanitize them with a solution of one tablespoon of chlorine bleach to one gallon of hot water; dry with a clean cloth or paper towel that has not been previously used.
• Wash and sanitize surfaces used to serve or store potentially contaminated products.
• Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.

Food Safety Tips for Retailers:

If retailers and/or other food service operators have handled recalled or other potentially contaminated food in their facilities, they should:

• Contact their local health department and communicate to their customers regarding possible exposure to a pathogen.
• Washthe inside walls and shelves of the refrigerator, cutting boards and countertops, and utensils that may have contacted contaminated foods; then sanitize them with a solution of one tablespoon of chlorine bleach to one gallon of hot water; dry with a clean cloth or paper towel that has not been previously used.
• Wash and sanitize display casesand surfaces used to potentially store, serve, or prepare potentially contaminated foods, such as shopping carts, food storage units, and reusable plastic containers.
• Wash hands with warm water and soapfollowing the cleaning and sanitation process.
• Conduct regular frequent cleaning and sanitizingof cutting boards and utensils used in processing to help minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.

General Tips for Retailers on Handling Recalled Produce:

The tips below can be applied to the handling of most recalled food processed in retail facilities, in order to prevent cross contamination.  These tips are especially important for the handling of recalled produce, or other products processed in retail locations.

• Stop serving or selling recalled produce, whether it is fresh or frozen. Produce stored at cold temperatures can be contaminated. For example, Listeria monocytogenes can grow even at refrigerated or frozen temperatures. There was a listeriosis outbreak linked to frozen vegetables in 2016.
• Keep recalled produce away from other foods and from any equipment, utensils, and linens, among other things.
• Determine if cross-contamination with other foods may have happened.
• Determine the source of the produce, or the supplier if the source of the fresh/frozen produce is unknown.
• Follow the instructions from the source or supplier on how to return or dispose of the recalled produce.
• Your employees should wash their hands thoroughly after handling recalled produce.
• Wash any clothing and linens that have may be contaminated.

Preventing Foodborne Illness at Home:

Consumers should follow these steps:

• Wash the inside walls and shelves of the refrigerator, cutting boards and countertops, and utensils that may have contacted contaminated foods; then sanitize them with a solution of one tablespoon of chlorine bleach to one gallon of hot water; dry with a clean cloth or paper towel that has not been previously used.
• Wash and sanitize surfaces used to serve or store potentially contaminated products.
• Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.
• Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with weakened immune systems should avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind.
• People with pets should take special care to avoid cross-contamination when preparing their pet’s food. Be sure to pick up and thoroughly wash food dishes as soon as pets are done eating, and prevent children, the elderly, and any other people with weak immune systems from handling or being exposed to the food or pets that have eaten potentially contaminated food.
• Consumers can also submit a voluntarily report, a complaint, or adverse event (illness or serious allergic reaction) related to a food product.

Advice for Restaurants and Retailers:

In the event that retailers and/or other food service operators are found to have handled recalled or other potentially contaminated food in their facilities, they should:

• Contact their local health department and communicate to their customers regarding possible exposure to Salmonella.
• Wash the inside walls and shelves of the refrigerator, cutting boards and countertops, and utensils that may have contacted contaminated foods; then sanitize them with a solution of one tablespoon of chlorine bleach to one gallon of hot water; dry with a clean cloth or paper towel that has not been previously used.
• Wash and sanitize display cases and surfaces used to potentially store, serve, or prepare potentially contaminated foods.
• Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.
• Conduct regular frequent cleaning and sanitizing of cutting boards and utensils used in processing to help minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.

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• Safe Food Handling: What You Need to Know

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