News — food safety

If you want a clear answer: no, you shouldn’t use the same chopping board for fish and veg unless you clean and disinfect it thoroughly for at least 20–30 seconds between uses. Food safety guidance in the UK recommends separate boards for raw fish and ready to eat foods like salad and vegetables, which is why many home cooks now keep at least 2 boards on the counter. Why sharing a chopping board for fish and veg is risky Raw fish can carry bacteria and parasites that you absolutely don’t want on your salad or stir fry veg. When you...

No, it is not safe to reuse a chopping board for vegetables straight after raw chicken unless you fully wash, disinfect and dry it first. Food safety guidance in the UK advises either using separate boards or washing with hot water, washing up liquid and a disinfectant safe for food contact every single time you switch from raw chicken to ready to eat vegetables. Why reusing a chopping board after chicken can be risky Raw chicken commonly carries bacteria such as Campylobacter and Salmonella. These can transfer to your chopping board in seconds. If you then slice salad leaves, peppers...

If you clean them properly, high quality moso bamboo cutting boards do not harbour more bacteria like E coli than plastic or hardwood boards, and in several published tests bacterial counts on bamboo dropped to safe levels within a few hours of washing and air drying. The safest option for most home cooks is a dense, sealed board such as the Deer & Oak Large Bamboo Board (45x35cm, 1.8kg) used with separate zones for raw meat and ready to eat foods. Can bamboo cutting boards harbour bacteria like E coli? All cutting boards can harbour bacteria if they are left...

Yes, bamboo chopping boards can be used for meat, as long as you use a dedicated board, clean it with hot soapy water within 5 minutes of use, and allow it to dry upright for at least 2 hours. At Deer & Oak, our pre oiled Moso bamboo cutting boards are designed to handle raw chicken, beef and pork safely when used with basic kitchen hygiene. Why bamboo chopping boards can be used for meat Bamboo is naturally dense and less porous than many soft woods, which makes it suitable for raw meat if you care for it properly. High...