Health Tip: Don't Fall for Food Safety Myths

(HealthDay News) — Believing a myth about food safety can leave you with a nasty case of food poisoning.

Foodsafety.gov sets the record straight:

Food poisoning actually is a serious illness and could cause long-term complications, even death.
It’s never safe to thaw food on the counter, as bacteria can grow rapidly at room temperature.
Acidic marinades will not kill bacteria.
Cleaning kitchen surfaces with a moderate bleach solution (1 teaspoon of bleach per quart of water) will kill bacteria. A stronger solution is not needed.
All fruits and vegetables, even those to be peeled, should be thoroughly rinsed with water, never soap.
Meat, poultry and seafood should never be rinsed, as this can cause bacteria to splash onto kitchen surfaces.
When cooking instructions call for letting microwaved food stand for a few minutes, it’s not to avoid burning, but to allow food to finish cooking.
Food can spoil before it smells bad.
Cooked food needs to be maintained at a warm temperature to prevent bacterial growth.

Health Tip: Don’t Fall for Food Safety Myths