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A clean cutting board is important in order to ensure the health and safety of your family members and guests. Studies have revealed that shocking amounts of bacteria remain on cutting boards even after having been cleaned. During food preparation, bacteria can find its way into tiny crevices made by knives and other implements while cutting and chopping. A quick wash will not remove them all.

E-coli and Salmonella are two of the main concerns but there are various others that are often chalked up as "food poisoning." Some of these can be quite serious, but the good news is that they can be avoided.

The best way to ensure health and safety during food preparation is to make sure that cutting boards are cleaned thoroughly after each use so that they will be clean when needed. A good scrub with hot, sudsy water will help, but a touch of bleach is even better. If possible, sanitize cutting boards in the dishwasher.

Another very practical option is to use separate cutting boards for different foods. Choose cutting boards in different styles, colors, or made from different materials, or label each one so there won't be any chance of grabbing the wrong cutting board for a certain type of food. If you don't wish to have several different boards or simply don't have room to store them all, at least choose a separate one for meat and poultry.

These painless changes can help prevent illness and make sure that the healthy foods you choose for your family remain healthy options.

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