Food safety
Refrigerate perishables within two hours
Note the time and refrigerate cooked or purchased perishable food within two hours.
Why it matters
Bacteria multiply at room temperature, and later chilling does not remove the risk already created.
Wrong action
Unsafe: Leaving food on the table overnight and refrigerating it later.
Correct action
Note the time and refrigerate cooked or purchased perishable food within two hours.
What to do
- Wash hands and prepare clean utensils first.
- Note the time and refrigerate cooked or purchased perishable food within two hours.
- Divide into small shallow containers for quick cooling; if late, follow the two-hour/four-hour rule. Afterward, record the time, temperature, or storage condition.
If something happens
Seek urgent medical help for severe vomiting, persistent diarrhoea, marked drowsiness, or breathing difficulty; call 999 for breathing difficulty or unconsciousness.
Sources and review
- Centre for Food Safety — Handling Leftovers
Source checked: 2026-08-20
This page provides general home-safety information and does not replace medical, legal, electrical, or other professional advice.
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