Oooh la-la… Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air, flowers have been ordered, cards and chocolates have been purchased, a few proposals are being rehearsed and dinner reservations have been made.

Not so fast.

Don’t let this be the Valentine’s Day story your guests share with their friends…

Don’t let foodborne illness spoil the romantic memory of Valentine’s Day. Here are some tips to help you serve a safe Valentine’s dinner to your guests.

• Remind your employees to wash their hands in warm soapy water for 20 seconds prior to handling food. Have them sing “Happy Birthday” twice, or in honor of Valentine’s Day “Strangers In The Night”—once should do the trick.
• Keep raw meat, poultry, eggs and seafood away from ready-to-eat foods to avoid cross contamination by bacteria or viruses from one food to another.
• Be sure to thoroughly wash cutting boards and utensils in hot soapy water after using them to prepare these types of raw foods.

For more food safety tips visit www.cambro.com/storesafe and follow us on Twitter.