It is impossible to keep the the entire food supply completely free from potentially dangerous bacteria. For this reason, you need to take precautions at home to prevent food poisoning. Food poisoning refers to gastrointestinal disorder caused by eating contaminated food. Most often, food poisoning occurs because the food has been incorrectly handled, improperly cooked or inadequately stored. It is especially serious and potentially life threatening for young children, pregnant women and their fetuses, older adults, and people with weakened immune system. These individuals are at great risk of severe health problems from food poisoning, and should take extra pre caution by avoiding the foods like raw or rare meat and poultry, raw or uncooked fish or shellfish, raw or uncooked eggs or foods, unpasteurized milk and milk products, refrigerated pates and luncheon meats. Professionals and health scientists always advise to take appropriate measures to prevent food poisoning. Keeping your hands, utensils and food preparation surfaces clean can prevent cross-contamination surfaces clean can prevent cross-contamination. Keeping raw-foods separated from ready-to-eat foods also prevents cross-contamination. Cooking foods at a safe temperature prevents contamination. Using a food thermometer is the only way to know that your cooked food has reached a high enough temperature to destroy bacteria. However, harmful bacteria can reproduce rapidly if foods are not properly cooked. Refrigerate perishable foods within two hours of purchasing or preparing them. It can also grow rapidly when prepared, food is kept without proper heating or cooling-especially during buffets or outdoor parties. Be careful and protect yourself from food poisoning.