News — food safety

The chopping board colour coding system is a simple 6 to 7 colour scheme used in professional kitchens so you always prepare raw meat, cooked meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, dairy and allergens on separate boards, which can cut cross contamination risk by well over 50% when followed correctly. If you want to know what is chopping board colour coding system and how to use it at home, it means matching a specific food type to a specific board colour every single time you cook. What is chopping board colour coding system in simple terms? In practical terms, the colour coding...

If you prepare raw fish at home at least once a month, you should use separate chopping boards for raw fish and veg to cut the risk of cross contamination by up to 80% compared with using a single board, according to UK Food Standards guidance. The simplest way is to keep one clearly designated board for raw fish and other raw proteins, and a second board for vegetables, fruit and ready to eat foods. Why separate chopping boards for raw fish and veg matter Raw fish can carry bacteria and parasites that you don't want on your salad or...

No, you should not reuse a chopping board for vegetables straight after cutting raw chicken unless you fully wash, scrub and dry it first. The safest approach in a home kitchen is to keep one dedicated board for raw meat and poultry and a separate board for ready to eat food like vegetables, fruit and bread. Why reusing a chopping board after chicken is risky Raw chicken can carry bacteria such as Campylobacter and Salmonella. These survive in tiny scratches on a cutting board and can transfer onto salad leaves, peppers or herbs in seconds. Even a small amount of...

If you want to know how to disinfect chopping board properly, the safest method at home is to first wash it in hot water at about 60°C with washing up liquid, then disinfect with either white vinegar (5% acidity) or a diluted 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, and let it air dry upright for at least 30 minutes. Done after every raw meat session, this routine keeps bacteria like salmonella and E. coli under control on both wooden and bamboo cutting boards. Why disinfecting your chopping board properly matters Every time you cut raw chicken, dice onions or slice bread, tiny...