Separate, Don’t Cross Contaminate!

Raw meat, chicken and other poultry, and seafood can spread germs to ready-to-eat food unless you keep them separated.

When grocery shopping, keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and their juices away from other foods. You should put these items on the bottom level of your grocery cart so any drippings or juices don’t contaminate your other foods.

When you bag your groceries, put these items in separate bags from your other foods. If you use reusable grocery bags, use a different color bag for raw meat, poultry, and seafood and wash the bags regularly.

Raw chicken is ready to cook and doesn’t need to be washed first. Washing chicken can spread germs to other foods, the sink, and the counter and make you sick.

Use separate cutting boards or plates for raw meat, poultry, and seafood and a separate cutting board or plate for produce, bread, and other foods that won’t be cooked.

Never place cooked food on a plate that previously held raw meat, poultry, or seafood unless you wash the plate with warm, soapy water and dry it first.

Keep raw or marinating meat, poultry, and seafood separate from all other foods in the refrigerator. Store raw meat, poultry, and seafood in sealed containers or wrap them securely so the juices don’t leak. Don’t reuse marinades.