Food safety
Wash hands before food preparation
Wash with water and liquid soap for at least 20 seconds before food and after handling raw food.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-20
Why it matters
Germs on hands can contaminate ready-to-eat food and cause illness.
Wrong action
Unsafe: Rinsing briefly with water or moving from raw meat directly to cooked food.
Correct action
Wash with water and liquid soap for at least 20 seconds before food and after handling raw food.
What to do
- Wash hands and prepare clean utensils first.
- Wash with water and liquid soap for at least 20 seconds before food and after handling raw food.
- Wash palms, backs, between fingers, thumbs, fingertips, and wrists, then dry. 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 — Five Keys Reminder
Last reviewed: 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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