Overview

There are things you can do while shopping to help prevent foodborne illness. Here are a few tips.

• Separate raw foods from other food items.

  Put raw meat, poultry, eggs, fish, and shellfish in separate bags. Don't mix them with other food items.

• Check the packaging for leaks or tears.

  Do not buy meat or poultry that has a tear in the package or is leaking.

• Get chilled food last.

  Pick up your refrigerated and frozen items at the end of your shopping trip. This way they'll be unrefrigerated for a shorter period of time.

• Go straight home.

  Go directly home after you shop so you can store all foods properly. If it will take you a long time to get home, think about getting a portable cooler for foods that could spoil.

• Check canned food for any damage.

  Do not buy canned food if the cans are dented, leaking, bulging, or rusting.