Food safety and hygiene at home
Guidance on practising good food safety and hygiene at home, to reduce your risk of getting ill.
Cleaning
Cleaning removes harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites which may be present on food in food preparation areas.
Cooking
How to cook your food to prevent food poisoning.
Cross-contamination
Cross-contamination occurs when bacteria is transferred between different foods, from food to surfaces, and from surfaces to food.
Chilling
Chilling, freezing and defrosting food properly helps stop harmful bacteria from growing.
Best before and use-by dates
It is important to understand best before and use-by dates on food labels to keep food safe and to help reduce food waste.
Raw pet food
Advice on safe handling and storage of raw pet food at home.
Raw drinking milk
Information for anyone who is already consuming or is considering consuming raw drinking milk or raw cream.
Handling flour and flour products safely
This guidance applies to all types of flour including wheat, gluten free, corn, gram, and rice flour. It may also be helpful when considering the risks associated with sensory play and craft activities using flour where this is not intended to be eaten.
Home food fact checker
Knowing how to store, cook and reheat food at home helps improve food safety and reduce food waste. This page has advice on some common household food safety questions like the sniff test and the egg float test.
Student guide to food safety and hygiene
Advice for students on how to keep their kitchen clean and reduce the risk of food poisoning.