Keeping raw and cooked foods, utensils, plates, and cutting boards completely separate helps prevent foodborne illness.

Cross contamination is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness and is one of the easiest ones to prevent. It’s caused when cooked foods come in contact with raw foods or the plates, utensils, and/or cutting boards that have been used to prepare raw foods. Cross contamination can also be caused by improper hand washing procedures.

Remember to keep everything separated including coolers, cutting boards, utensils and never place a cooked product back on surfaces used to hold or prepare raw foods.