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Play it Food Safe

It's important to understand how to protect yourself and your family from foodborne illness. 

While many of us believe we handle food safely, statistics show most food poisoning actually happens at home. This illness can be serious, especially for children, elderly residents, and those with weakened immune systems. 

By brushing up on food safety basics, you can help protect yourself, your family, and the Mandurah community. Visit HealthyWA for more tips on keeping your kitchen safe and foodborne illness at bay. 

Top tips to keep food safe

A raw chicken wearing a sweatband with illustrated droplets around it on a pink background, with text warning not to let raw chicken juice contaminate other food.
  • Clean, separate, cook and chill. This is the most important thing you can do to prevent food poisoning.
  • Never wash raw chicken. This spreads bacteria around your kitchen and can make you sick.
  • Don't let raw chicken juice contaminate other foods. Always wrap your chicken before storing it.
The word “COOK” on an orange background, with the second “O” replaced by a fried egg.
  • Separate raw chicken, meat and eggs from ready-to-eat-food. This helps prevent cross-contamination.
  • Never wash raw eggs. This helps avoid bacteria getting inside the egg through the porous shell.
  • Always cook eggs until the yolk and whites are firm. If you use raw eggs in foods such as desserts and mayonnaise, refrigerate immediately.
A wooden bowl with chopsticks on a bright blue background, with illustrated icy effects and text that says “Chill it – or chuck it.”
  • Throw out food that has been left out of the fridge for more than 4 hours.
  • Put cooked food into the fridge as soon as it finishes steaming.
  • Avoid food being stored in the temperature danger zone (5°C to 60°C) as bacteria that causes food poisoning grows best at these temperatures.

Other helpful resources

Food business requirements

Food business requirements

Learn about the registration/notification process for food businesses, along with other necessary approvals and requirements.

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Public and environmental health

Public and environmental health

Information and services that protect community health, including food safety, environmental health standards, and recreational water testing.

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