Food safety is an important consideration if you’re hosting a large Canada Day celebration on your farm. It’s important to keep food safety top of mind during outdoor gatherings and barbecues, whether you're an experienced grill master or a first-time cook. Prioritizing food safety is essential to ensure a healthy and happy Canada Day celebration.
It starts with proper hygiene. Begin by scrubbing the grill clean before use and washing utensils and plates thoroughly before they meet food.
If you don't have access to a faucet, carry bottled water, soap, and paper towels for handwashing. Remember to wash your hands before and after handling raw meat and poultry, following the correct handwashing steps: wet hands, lather with soap, scrub for 20 seconds, rinse, and dry.
To prevent cross-contamination, it's important to separate raw meat and vegetables. Utilize different cutting boards for each and place raw meat or poultry on one plate and cooked meat and poultry on another. Avoid using the same utensils for placing raw and cooked items on the grill.
Accurate cooking temperatures are crucial to ensure the safety of grilled food. Use food thermometers to determine doneness.
Insert the thermometer through the side of the patty until the probe reaches the centre. Remember, colour is not a reliable indicator of doneness. Cook food to the following minimum internal temperatures:
- Cook whole cuts of meat to 63°C (145°F) with a three-minute rest time.
- Cook fish to 63°C (145°F).
- Cook ground meat to 71°C (160°F).
- Cook poultry (ground or whole) to 74°C (165°F).
Even if frozen products appear pre-cooked or browned, treat them as raw food and cook them thoroughly. Products labelled as "Cook and Serve," "Ready to Cook," and "Oven Ready" must be cooked.
Proper chilling is essential to prevent bacterial growth. Bacteria multiply rapidly between 4°C (40°F) and 60°C (140°F), known as the Danger Zone. Consume or refrigerate perishable food within two hours (one hour if outdoor temperatures are 32°C/90°F or above).
Prioritize the health and safety of your loved ones this Canada Day by following these essential food safety measures. Celebrate responsibly and enjoy a memorable Canada Day!