Review the details below. Keep raw meats, seafood poultry, and eggs away from other foods to prevent cross- contamination of bacteria. Thaw meats in the refrigerator, not on the counter, where the warmer air allows bacteria to multiply quickly. Prevent the spread of illnesses caused by bacteria by always washing your hands thoroughly before preparing food. Choose the best topic sentence to introduce a paragraph containing these details. By taking precautions when you prepare food you can stop the spread of dangerous bacteria. If you eat meat that has not been properly cooked, you risk getting an infection caused by a potentially deadly bacteria. Contaminated seafood poultry, and eggs may cause you to become ill.