Keeping raw and cooked foods separate is super important when preparing meals. This helps prevent cross-contamination, which can make people sick. Here are some important points to think about:

1. What is Cross-Contamination?

   • Cross-contamination happens when harmful germs from raw foods, like chicken or meat, get onto cooked foods.
   • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that about 48 million people in the U.S. get sick from food each year. Out of those, 128,000 end up in the hospital, and 3,000 sadly die.

2. Bacteria and Their Growth:

   • Raw foods can have bad germs like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria.
   • These germs can grow very fast! For example, Salmonella can double in number every 20 minutes if the conditions are right.

3. Why Keeping Foods Apart is Important:

   • The USDA suggests using different cutting boards for raw meat and cooked foods to lower the risk of getting sick.
   • It’s also best to put raw meats on the bottom shelf of the fridge. This way, their juices won’t drip onto other foods.

By following these simple rules and keeping raw and cooked foods apart, you can lower the risk of cross-contamination. This makes your kitchen safer and keeps your food quality high!