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Food Safety: Tips for Grocery Shopping

Topic Overview

There are things you can do while shopping to help prevent food poisoning.

  • Put raw meat, poultry, eggs, fish, and shellfish in separate bags, and do not mix them with other food items.
  • Do not buy meat or poultry that has a tear in the package or is leaking.
  • Pick up your refrigerated and frozen items at the end of your shopping trip, so they are unrefrigerated for a shorter period of time.
  • Drive directly home after finishing so you can store all foods properly. If you have a long drive, consider getting an ice chest for perishable foods.
  • Do not buy food past the "sell by" or "use by" dates.
  • Do not buy canned foods if the cans are dented, leaking, bulging, or rusting.

Credits

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
Last Revised February 8, 2011

Last Revised: February 8, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease

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