It’s Food Safety Week – 2022 theme is Don’t Be Raw and Risky!

Aussies are taking a food safety risk by eating raw or rare meat – don’t be raw and risky this Australian Food Safety Week

The Food Safety Information Council is urging Australians this Food Safety Week to reduce their risk of food poisoning by buying and using a meat thermometer to check safe cooking temperatures.

Cathy Moir, Council Chair, said “you can’t tell if your food is cooked safely just by looking at it. The only way to ensure your meat or poultry is cooked correctly is to purchase and use a meat thermometer. We are urging people to get that meat thermometer out of the drawer or purchase one if you don’t have one already. Most supermarkets, BBQ outlets and kitchenware shops stock them.

‘We recommend you use a digital meat thermometer and cook your foods safely to these temperatures measured in the centre of the food:

• Beef, lamb, kangaroo in whole cuts like chops, steaks, pieces and roasts at least 63°C (medium rare) and leave to rest 3 to 5 minutes.
• Pork whole cuts and pieces to 70°C and roasts to between 70°C and 75°C and leave to rest 3 to 5 minutes.
• Beef, lamb, kangaroo, or pork that have been made into sausages, hamburgers or mince as well as rolled roasts, liver and other offal 75°C
• All poultry (whole cuts, roast or mince) should be cooked to at least 75°C

‘Egg and egg dishes such as quiche can also be a food safety risk and should be cooked to 72°C in the centre (or until the white is firm and the yolk thickens).

‘Remember to always clean and sanitise your meat thermometer between uses.

Hygiene is critical to food safety so always wash your hands before handling food and after handling raw meat, chicken, and eggs. Raw fruit and vegetables such as salad veggies can also be a food poisoning risk so make sure you always wash them under running water before eating,’ Ms Moir concluded.

Learn more about food safety on the Food Safety Information Council website here www.foodsafety.asn.au