Storing Meat:
If there is any recommended storage information on the packaging, it is strongly advised to comply with it. Otherwise, in general, Poultry will last about 6-12 months if frozen below -18 degrees C. When purchasing meat, as with other products, ensure that the First-in-first-out (FIFO) method is applied to ensure proper circulation of items and to prevent older items from spoilage hence reducing wastage. If the poultry/meat is stored in a freezer, avoid excessive opening and closing of the freezer door as this will cause the temperature to fluctuate. Never leave meat and poultry at room temperature for more than 2 hours and place the meat in a container so that none of the juices contaminate other food items.
Handling:
Never place raw and cooked meats/poultry together or side by side as this will cause cross contamination. Use the right cutting board that is meant solely for raw meat when cutting/slicing etc. Never re-freeze thawed meat as this will mean that microbes have had a chance to multiply and refreezing and thawing again will hence cause even more microbes to grow.
Purchasing:
Ensure that the source of the chicken supplied to the establishment is a credible one. Employ suppliers which produce a Certificate of Assurance. Also, ensure that the poultry does not come from bird flu-stricken areas so as to eliminate the chance of purchasing an infected chicken. Upon receiving, ensure that the chicken/meat is at the appropriate temperature of below 4 degrees C. If it is not, reject it immediately.
If there is any recommended storage information on the packaging, it is strongly advised to comply with it. Otherwise, in general, Poultry will last about 6-12 months if frozen below -18 degrees C. When purchasing meat, as with other products, ensure that the First-in-first-out (FIFO) method is applied to ensure proper circulation of items and to prevent older items from spoilage hence reducing wastage. If the poultry/meat is stored in a freezer, avoid excessive opening and closing of the freezer door as this will cause the temperature to fluctuate. Never leave meat and poultry at room temperature for more than 2 hours and place the meat in a container so that none of the juices contaminate other food items.
Handling:
Never place raw and cooked meats/poultry together or side by side as this will cause cross contamination. Use the right cutting board that is meant solely for raw meat when cutting/slicing etc. Never re-freeze thawed meat as this will mean that microbes have had a chance to multiply and refreezing and thawing again will hence cause even more microbes to grow.
Purchasing:
Ensure that the source of the chicken supplied to the establishment is a credible one. Employ suppliers which produce a Certificate of Assurance. Also, ensure that the poultry does not come from bird flu-stricken areas so as to eliminate the chance of purchasing an infected chicken. Upon receiving, ensure that the chicken/meat is at the appropriate temperature of below 4 degrees C. If it is not, reject it immediately.
