The most important way to prevent a foodborne illness from bacteria is to practice thorough cleanliness, especially washing hands and surfaces often. Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before, during, and after food preparation, and after handling raw meat, poultry, seafood, or eggs, is critical to stop the spread of bacteria
. Additionally, cleaning utensils, cutting boards, and countertops with hot, soapy water after each use helps prevent cross-contamination between raw and cooked foods
. Other key practices include:
- Cooking foods to proper internal temperatures to kill harmful bacteria (e.g., 165°F for poultry, 160°F for ground meats)
- Separating raw foods from ready-to-eat foods to avoid cross-contamination
- Refrigerating perishable foods promptly and keeping cold foods below 40°F to inhibit bacterial growth
Among these, handwashing and surface cleanliness stand out as the foundational step because bacteria can spread easily through hands and kitchen surfaces without visible signs, leading to contamination of food and subsequent illness
. Therefore, rigorous hand hygiene combined with proper food handling and cooking is the most effective way to prevent bacterial foodborne illness.
