Final answer:
To avoid E. coli, the best method is to cook meat to a safe temperature using a cooking thermometer. Other essential precautions include regular handwashing, proper thawing of meat, maintaining appropriate refrigerator and freezer temperatures, and consuming foods before they expire.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best way to avoid E. coli infection is to implement proper food safety practices. While all the options provided contribute to food safety, cooking meat to a safe temperature, as stated in option B, is crucial because it ensures the elimination of harmful bacteria. Use a thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the meat reaches at least 74 degrees C (165 degrees F) to kill any bacteria it contains. Other important measures include regular handwashing before and after handling or preparing food, properly thawing meat in the refrigerator or using cold water or microwave methods, and keeping raw meat chilled until it is ready to cook. Additionally, it is vital to keep the refrigerator at or below 4 degrees C (40 degrees F) to inhibit bacterial growth in refrigerated foods and ensure the freezer temperature stays below -18 degrees C (0 degrees F) for safe storage of frozen foods.
It's also essential to rotate food in your pantry, consume foods before they expire, rinse fresh produce, and rapidly cool large quantities of food, like homemade soup, before storing them in the refrigerator to prevent the proliferation of foodborne microbes. Thoroughly reheating leftovers to the point where bacteria are killed off is important, but remember, if food has been left at room temperature for over two hours, it might no longer be safe to eat, even after reheating.