Whether you cook for yourself or children, it’s important to follow a few safety rules in the kitchen, to keep everyone safe. This is especially important if there are people with allergies or are pregnant. And also if there are furry friends nearby who like to try their luck with leftovers! Food Standards Agency is responsible for food safety in England, where you can find the latest recall. It also offers free online food safety training.
basic kitchen hygiene rules
- Keep all surfaces & utensils clean.
- Cook & reheat/chill foods to correct temperatures.
- Turn handles inwards, keep an extinguisher nearby.
- Tie long hair back and avoid floaty sleeves.
- Use a sharp knife (with a guard).
foods to avoid for pregnancy/medications
- Keep melon from other foods (may contain salmonella).
- Don’t eat cooked rice after 24 hours (food poisoning).
- Avoid caffeine, chocolate etc for pregnancy/nursing.
- Avoid chia seeds for choking hazards .
- Check medication (grapefruit, green veggies).
- Avoid unpasteurised foods (miso, juice) for pregnancy/nursing.
how to keep pets safe in the kitchen
Learn more on choosing better brands of pet food. Read this book to keep dogs safe for info on food/water bowls, preventing bloat and first aid. Along with avoiding feeding cooked bones (can choke), keep the following foods away from pets:
- Chocolate, caffeine & alcohol
- Raw eggs & fish (salmon has a fatal parasite)
- Alliums (garlic, onion, shallots, leeks, chives)
- All citrus fruits & dried fruits
- Mushrooms & avocado
- Fruit pips & seeds (natural cyanide)
- Faux meats (inc. jackfruit)
- Raw bread dough (expands in the stomach)
- Corn-on-the-cob (choking hazard)
- Spices (esp. nutmeg & mace)
- Most nuts (esp. macadamia) & seeds
- Xylitol (a sweetener, if used)
If you grow your own food, learn how to make your garden safe for pets (this includes indoor plants to avoid – don’t face them to outdoor windows, to help stop birds flying into windows.
