Food poisoning is the name for the range of illnesses caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or drink. It is also sometimes called foodborne illness. It is quite common, affecting an estimated 4.1 million Australians each year. The symptoms can be unpleasant and for some groups they can be quite serious.

Campylobacter is one of the most common cause of food poisoning and is considered to be responsible for more than 200,000 cases of food poisoning each year. More than 80,000 of these were confirmed to be campylobacter poisoning (also known as campylobacteriosis) by laboratory reports.

Here are Eight Things All Food Retailers & Manufacturers Can Do Today:

1. Defrost in the fridge
Place poultry in a covered container on the bottom shelf of the fridge to defrost away from cooked/ready-to-eat foods. Check poultry is fully defrosted before cooking.

2. Never mix raw poultry and cooked food
Keep raw poultry separate from cooked and ready-to-eat food.

3. Avoid cross-contamination
Ensure hands, equipment and surfaces are thoroughly cleaned with soap, hot water and appropriate disinfectant after contact with raw poultry or its packaging.

4. Cover and chill
Cover raw poultry and store at the bottom of the fridge so juices cannot drip on other foods.

5. Check it’s cooked
Poultry should be cooked thoroughly until steaming hot with no pink meat and juices must run clear. Check this at the thickest part. If barbecuing, consider pre-cooking in the oven first, then finish on the barbecue for flavour.

6. Don’t wash raw poultry
Splashing water spreads germs to hands, equipment, surfaces and other foods.

7. Cook marinades
Don’t put sauce or marinade on cooked food if it has already been used with raw poultry.

8. Contact ISOsafe today
Don't risk a food complaint! State Government Food Authorities work closely with local councils to ensure food sold to consumers is both safe and correctly labelled. ISOsafe can deliver in house food safety awareness training to your workers, as well as, undertake a full assessment of your restaurant / food manufacturing / food storage (warehouse) facility.