Food Safety

You can buy a wide range of fresh produce UK from Farmers Markets, but when you are handling, cooking, cleaning etc them there are a few things to know. Here are six steps to safer fruits and vegetables:

Check

Make sure that the fresh produce UK you buy is not damaged or bruised.

Check the the fresh produce UK you buy is refrigerated, for example when buying organic food / fresh cut fruit or vegetables such as packaged salads and pre-cut fruit. Don't buy fresh produce UK that has not been refrigerated.

Clean

Be sure to was your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds after and before handling fresh produce UK, such as fruit and vegetables.

Surfaces and utensils need to be cleaned thoroughly with hot water and soap, including counter tops, cutting boards, knives and peeler's. All the things you will use that will come into contact with the fresh produce UK before and after the preparation.

Make sure you wash all the fresh produce UK such as fruit and vegetables under a running tap. This includes all the fresh produce UK with skin or rind that you don't eat.

Whilst running the fresh produce UK under the tap either scrub or clean the fruit and vegetables with a clean vegetable brush, whilst rinsing with the water.

Dry the fresh produce UK with a clean towel or a paper towel.

Don't ever use detergent or bleach to wash the fresh produce UK, these kinds of products are not intended for consumption.

Separate

When you are actually shopping be sure that the fresh produce UK is separated from all the household cleaning items, raw meat, poultry and seafood in the shopping trolley, checkout and bags.

Also keep the fresh produce UK separate (as above) in your refrigerator.

Separate all the fresh produce UK such as fruit and vegetables from raw meat, poultry and seafood. Don't use the same cutting board, if you do make sure you clean it thoroughly with soap and hot water. Do this before and after using your cutting board for fresh produce UK.

Cooking

Either cook or throw away and fresh produce UK that has come into contact with raw meat, poultry and seafood or any of their juices.

Chill

All cut, peeled or cooked fresh produce UK should be refrigerated within 2 hours.

Throw Away

Make sure you throw away all fresh produce UK that has not been refrigerated within 2 hours of peeling, cutting or cooking.

Throw away or remove all bruised or damaged portions of fresh produce UK, when preparing to cook them or before eating them raw.

Throw away any fresh produce UK that will not be cooked, but has been in contact with raw meat, poultry or seafood. If your not sure - throw it away!

Colour and Fresh Produce UK

Colour not only makes your fresh produce UK look very attractive but it is evidence that your snacks and meals provide powerful phytonutrients. Which are colourful plant chemicals, they can help your body fight disease and help slow down the signs of aging. Another great thing about choosing different colours of your fresh produce UK, is that it helps you to get your 5 - 9 portions or fruit and vegetables a day. These servings of fresh produce UK are what your body needs for good health.

There is a clue in the colour of a plant to what kind of benefits it gives, below is a table that helps you identify this: