Older age

Getting older can mean changes in lifestyle, travel, housing & health. During these changes keeping food safe is more important than ever.

Individuals vary, but after age 70 people can be more vulnerable to food poisoning because:

• immune systems get weaker
• stomachs have less acid to protect against bugs
• the impact of symptoms can be more severe, and
• recovery takes longer.

Follow these food safety hints when:

• travelling on the road
• taking food into aged care facilities
• temperatures rise and families get together during summer.

Special care is needed for some foods, such as:

• eggs
• fresh fruit & vegetables
• melons
• poultry and read meat
• roquefort cheese
• sprouts, and
• food that might contain listeria (pdf, 54KB)

For all food, remember the golden rules of food safety.