Reusable shopping bags for food
When getting your groceries, pack raw meat and poultry in separate bags to other foods. This prevents the meat juices from dripping onto other raw and ready-to-eat foods, and onto food packages.
Wash or replace reusable grocery bags often – or right away if you think meat juices have spilt on them. After shopping, there can be harmful germs inside grocery bags. These can spread to new food the next time you shop and make you sick. They can also get spread into the home and other places.
Keep raw meats, poultry (like chicken), and fish separate from your dry goods, fresh produce, and ready-to-eat foods. This reduces cross-contamination (spreading germs) between foods.
Follow this rule in the kitchen, the fridge, your shopping trolley, and with shopping bags or containers.
How to handle raw meat safely and avoid cross-contamination
Reusable food containers
When bringing your own containers to the supermarket deli, follow these 3 steps to ensure your food stays safe to eat.
- Make sure your containers are clean and dry before storing them.
- Make sure the containers don’t leak and the lids have a good seal.
- Keep deli and raw items sealed (and ideally separated) in a chilly bin filled with ice packs when transporting.
Other food safety shopping tips
- Make sure raw meats, poultry, and fish are well wrapped. Ensure packaging is not leaking before you leave the store.
- To keep food fresher, try to do your food shopping last, just before you go home.
- Take food straight home after shopping – especially raw meat, seafood, and chilled and frozen foods.
- Don’t leave groceries in a hot car, car boot or in direct sunlight from windows.
- If you can’t take them straight home or if the weather is hot, pack groceries in a chilly bag or bin with an ice pack. Transfer them to the fridge or freezer as soon as you get home.
Find other food safety tips for the home
Who to contact
If you have questions about food safety at home, email info@mpi.govt.nz
