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Food safety when shopping
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Even if food producers and sellers have followed the food safety laws, the quality and safety of your food can be affected by how it is handled by you. Once you purchase food, the safety of that food also becomes your responsibility. When shopping for food, you should choose, pack and transport it carefully to make sure it stays safe to eat.
Some people are more at risk of food poisoning than others. Vulnerable groups include pregnant women, young children, the elderly and anyone with an illness. Take special care when buying, storing and preparing food for these people.
Choose your food carefully
Australia produces some of the most wholesome and safe food products in the world. However, the quality and safety of some food can be affected by poor storage and packaging. Choose food carefully when shopping. Never buy:
- Dented, swollen or leaking cans or containers
- Products with damaged or imperfect packaging
- Cracked eggs
- Chilled or frozen foods that have been left out of the refrigerator
- Products that are soiled or mouldy
- Ready-to-eat foods left uncovered on counters
- Hot food, like takeaways, which are not steaming hot
- Anything where you have doubts about the quality.
Take special care with high risk foods
Food poisoning bacteria grow and multiply on some types of food more easily than on others. These high risk foods include:
- Meat
- Poultry such as chicken and turkey
- Dairy products
- Eggs
- Smallgoods such as salami and ham
- Seafood
- Cooked rice
- Cooked pasta
- Prepared salads such as coleslaw, pasta salads and rice salads
- Prepared fruit salads.
High risk foods should be kept out of the temperature danger zone, either below 5°C or above 60°C. When you buy high risk foods, try to minimise the time they spend in the temperature danger zone by packing them properly and taking them home immediately.
Check the dates on the packaging
Always check the date marked on perishable foods, especially chilled or frozen items. A ‘use-by’ date shows the date by which a product should be consumed. It should not be sold after this date. A ‘best before’ date indicates the date until which the food will remain at its best quality.
Plan your shopping trip
Some hints for shopping safely:
- Always pick up your frozen or chilled foods towards the end of your shopping trip.
- Buy hot chickens and other hot food later in your trip and keep it separate from cold food.
- Prevent meat, chicken or fish juices leaking onto other products.
- Check that the staff use separate tongs or gloves when handling different food types if you are buying from a deli.
Transporting food home
If you have purchased hot, chilled or frozen foods, you should get them home as quickly as possible. For trips longer than about 30 minutes, or on very hot days, it’s a good idea to put chilled or frozen foods in a cooler or insulated bag to keep food cold. Once you arrive home, immediately put chilled or frozen foods into your fridge or freezer.
Where to get help
- Your local council health department
- Food Safety Hotline Tel. 1300 364 352, Email: foodsafety@dhs.vic.gov.au
Things to remember
- Never buy any product if you are unsure about its quality or safety.
- Check the dates on packaging.
- Once you purchase chilled or frozen food, get it home and into the fridge or freezer as quickly as possible.
- Try to keep high risk foods out of the ‘temperature danger zone’ of between 5°C and 60°C.
- Enjoy your food, don’t let it turn nasty.
You might also be interested in:
Food - 'use-by' and 'best before' dates.
Food additives.
Food labels explained.
Food safety outdoors.
Food safety when cooking.
Food safety when eating out.
Want to know more?
Go to More information for support groups, related links and references.
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This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:
Department of Health - Public Health
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Copyight © 1999/2010 State of Victoria. Reproduced from the Better Health Channel (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au) at no cost with permission of the Victorian Minister for Health. Unauthorised reproduction and other uses comprised in the copyright are prohibited without permission.
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This Better Health Channel fact sheet has passed through a rigorous approval process. For the latest updates and more information visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au.
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Last updated: October 2009
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When shopping for food, you should choose, pack and transport it carefully to make sure it stays safe to eat. Take special care with high risk foods such as meats, poultry, smallgoods and prepared salads. When you buy high risk foods, try to minimise the time they spend in the temperature danger zone by packing them properly and taking them home immediately for storage in the fridge or freezer. Always check the use-by or best before date marked on perishable foods, especially chilled or frozen items...
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Food safety when shopping - Better Health ChannelWhen shopping for food, you should choose, pack and transport it carefully to make sure it stays safe to eat. Take special care with high risk foods such as meats, poultry, smallgoods and prepared salads. When you buy high risk foods, try to minimise the time they spend in the temperature danger zone by packing them properly and taking them home immediately for storage in the fridge or freezer. Always check the use-by or best before date marked on perishable foods, especially chilled or frozen items...
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The information published here was accurate at the time of publication and is not intended to take the place of medical advice. Please seek advice from a qualified health care professional.
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