VA National Clinical Public Health Programs — HIV/AIDSwww.hiv.va.gov | Send to printer | |
< Close window | |
URL: http://www.hiv.va.gov/vahiv?page=diet-01-06 | | What should I know about food safety? | | | | Paying attention to food and water safety is important when you have HIV, because
your immune system is already weakened and working hard to fight off infections. If food is not handled or prepared in a safe way, germs from the food can be
passed on to you. These germs can make you sick. You need to handle and cook food properly to keep those germs from getting to
you. Here are some food safety guidelines: - Keep everything clean! Clean your counters and utensils often.
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after preparing and
eating food.
- Check expiration dates on food packaging. Do not eat foods that have a
past expiration date.
- Rinse all fresh fruits and vegetables with clean water.
- Thaw frozen meats and other frozen foods in the refrigerator or in a
microwave. Never thaw foods at room temperature. Germs that grow at room
temperature can make you very sick.
- Clean all cutting boards and knives (especially those that touch chicken
and meat) with soap and hot water before using them again.
- Make sure you cook all meat, fish, and poultry "well-done." You might want
to buy a meat thermometer to help you know for sure that it is done. Put the
thermometer in the thickest part of the meat and not touching a bone. Cook
the meat until it reaches 165 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit on your thermometer.
- Do not eat raw, soft-boiled, or "over easy" eggs, or Caesar salads with
raw egg in the dressing.
- Do not eat sushi, raw seafood, or raw meats, or unpasteurized milk or
dairy products.
- Keep your refrigerator cold, set no higher than 40 degrees. Your freezer
should be at 0 degrees.
- Refrigerate leftovers at temperatures below 40 degrees F. Do not eat
leftovers that have been sitting in the refrigerator for more than 3 days.
- Keep hot items heated to over 140 degrees F, and completely reheat
leftovers before eating.
- Throw away any foods (like fruit, vegetables, and cheese) that you think
might be old. If food has a moldy or rotten spot, throw it out. When in
doubt, throw it out.
- Some germs are spread through tap water. If your public water supply isn't
totally pure, drink bottled water.
|
|
|
| | |
|
|