Food Safety: Tips for Grocery Shopping

Topic Overview

There are things you can do while shopping to help prevent food poisoning.

• Put raw meat, poultry, eggs, fish, and shellfish in separate bags, and do not mix them with other food items.
• Do not buy meat or poultry that has a tear in the package or is leaking.
• Pick up your refrigerated and frozen items at the end of your shopping trip, so they are unrefrigerated for a shorter period of time.
• Drive directly home after finishing so you can store all foods properly. If you have a long drive, consider getting an ice chest for perishable foods.
• Do not buy food past the "sell by" or "use by" dates.
• Do not buy canned foods if the cans are dented, leaking, bulging, or rusting.