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Food safety is just as important at home as it is anywhere else.
Because we handle food every day, it's easy to forget that harmful bacteria can grow in food if it isn't stored, prepared or cooked properly, potentially causing foodborne illness.
Whether you're preparing daily meals, packing lunchboxes, hosting a family gathering or cooking outdoors, following safe food handling practices can help protect you, your family and your guests.
Food safety essentials
Good food safety habits should be part of daily life. It’s important to:
- maintain good cleaning and hygiene practices, including handwashing (PDF, 304KB)
- cook food safely, including using correct cooking temperatures
- store food correctly to keep it fresh and safe
- shop for food safely
- understand food allergies
- food safety in emergencies, such as floods, fires and power outages
- key food safety tips
Food risk and you
Some people need to take extra care with what they eat, and some foods need special handling. Learn about:
- allergies and intolerance
- low immunity
- foods that needs extra care
- older age
- pregnancy
- infants
- kids' lunchboxes
Summer eating and large groups
Food safety risks can increase when preparing food for larger groups, in warm weather, and in emergency situations. Find tips for:
Dairy foods
Hot custard over plum pudding, a rich cheesecake, a swirl of cream in coffee can all be delightful.
Quick food safety tips are:
- it’s best to keep everything that contains fresh cream in the fridge until just before serving and make sure any leftovers are back in the fridge within 2 hours
- custard needs to be reheated until steaming hot and also put back in the fridge within 2 hours
- once cooked or opened, all custard should be eaten or returned to the fridge within 2 hours and kept no more than 3 days
- other goodies using dairy such as cheesecake and pavlova are best kept in the fridge until serving and then returned to keep cold.