Learn how to stay food safe while shopping Farmers Markets with tips from the USDA. These markets are available seasonally and year round across the country. You can buy fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and beverages, as well as prepared foods in some states. The first tip is to watch the temperature. Perishable foods should be out of refrigeration no longer than two hours, and that time shrinks to one hour if the ambient air temperature is 90*F or higher. Bacteria can double in a food in 20 minutes when the food is not refrigerated. Look for vendors who display perishable items like soft cheeses and raw meats on ice, in a cooler, or with refrigeration. And if you intend to buy these foods, bring an insulated bag or cooler with cold sources such as gel packs, ice, or frozen … [Read more...]
FDA Revokes Regulation Allowing Brominated Vegetable Oil
The FDA has revoked the regulation allowing brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food. This oil is modified with bromine. He agency concluded that the intended use of BVO in food is no longer considered safe. A series of studies conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health found the potential for adverse human health effects from the use of brominated vegetable oil. The FDA announced plans to ban this product last year. And the state of California banned BVO along with other compounds before the FDA announced their decision. Brominated vegetable oil was removed from the Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) list in 1970. It was used in small amounts to keep the citrus flavoring from floating to the top in some beverages. Few beverages in the United States contain … [Read more...]
Fourth of July Food Safety Tips From the USDA
The USDA is offering Fourth of July food safety tips so you can have a great celebration and offer safe food for your family and friends to enjoy. It's easy: just follow the four steps of clean, separate, cook, and chill. When you are serving guests of varying ages and health concerns, it's very important to make sure that the food at your party or gathering is wholesome and safe. That means you need to follow certain steps in the kitchen to the letter. They are: CLEAN. Wash your hands and surfaces such as countertops often. Hands should be washed for 20 seconds with clean water and soap. (Sing Happy Birthday to You twice for accurate timing.) If no running water is available, use hand sanitizer or moist towelettes that contain at least 60 percent alcohol. SEPARATE. Separate … [Read more...]
Memorial Day Food Safety Tips From USDA to Stay Safe
These Memorial Day food safety tips from the USDA will help you and your family stay safe this summer. Summer cooking and parties are prime time for possible food poisoning cases for several reasons. Warmer temperatures and outdoor picnics, parties, and grilling pose special challenges. Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Emilio Esteban said in a statement, "The bacteria that cause foodborne illness love the summertime as much as we do because they thrive and multiply quickly in warmer temperatures. This causes illnesses to spike during the summer. As we all spend more time outside, it is important to remember these food safety steps to keep your friends and family safe." First, always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before you start cooking and eating. If safe … [Read more...]
Keep Spring Holiday Meals Safe With Tips From the USDA
Keep spring holiday meals safe with tips from the USDA. This year, the three major holidays of Easter, Eid, and Passover are all happening in early spring. USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Emilio Esteban said in a statement, "The holiday season is a special time to gather with friends and family and enjoy traditional meals, Whether you’re celebrating your Easter dinner with ham, Eid lunch with lamb, or Seder meal with brisket, remember to keep food safety at the forefront." Food safety is especially important when you have people with varied health statuses and ages at your spring holiday meals table, because some of those people are more susceptible to serious complications from food poisoning. In addition, some foods must be prepared early, which extends the time for … [Read more...]
Learn About Sausages and Food Safety From the USDA
Learn about sausages and food safety from the USDA, with tips on buying, storing, and cooking this type of meat product. Sausages are sold either uncooked or ready-to-eat. This information will be clearly marked on the product package. Types of Sausages There are two broad categories of sausage: ready to eat and uncooked. Ready to eat sausages are dry, semi-dry, and/or cooked. Dry sausages can be smoked, unsmoked, or cooked. Semi-dry sausages are typically heated in the smokehouse to partially dry and fully cook the product. Cooked sausages, such as bologna and frankfurters, are cooked and may also be smoked. Uncooked sausages are raw and must be cooked to a safe final internal temperature before eating. Deciphering the Label The label on all sausage products will give you the … [Read more...]
Get Super Bowl Delivery and Takeout Food Safety Advice
Get Super Bowl delivery and takeout food safety advice from the USDA to keep your guests safe from food poisoning at your party. There are special rules for handling takeout and delivery foods. If you ordered takeout or Super Bowl delivery foods the day before the game, make sure that someone is available to get the food inside your home and into the fridge in a timely manner. All food that is not going to be eaten immediately should be refrigerated. If you ordered the food for delivery the day of your party, refrigerate cold foods if it's more than two hours before it's time to eat. You may want to reheat foods before serving. If you are serving food to groups, the two hour rule is critical. Perishable foods cannot be in the danger zone of 40°F to 140°F for more than two hours. … [Read more...]
Keep Pets Safe From Holiday Hazards With Tips From FDA
Keep pets safe from holiday hazards with these tips from the FDA. There are many smells, sights, and sounds that may be unfamiliar to curious dogs and cats this time of year, and some can be hazardous to your pet's health. Salt dough ornaments and homemade play dough can be fatal to pets if eaten. The high salt content is the concern. Make sure that you warn your children to keep these items away from your dog or cats as well. One cup of salt is 48 teaspoons. A pet that weighs 10 pounds can get sick after eating just 1/2 teaspoon of table salt. A 1-1/2 teaspoon dose can be fatal. Tinsels and ribbons are also problematic. The sparkly and wiggly items look like prey, and they can cause serious stomach and intestinal damage to dogs and cats. Keep tinsel off the tree and collect all … [Read more...]
Store Thanksgiving Leftovers Safely to Stay Healthy
After the holidays, one of the best things is having lots of great leftovers to eat. But you need to store Thanksgiving leftovers safely to stay healthy. Here are some rules to follow from Food Safety.gov. Food safety starts as soon as you take the food out of the oven or the refrigerator to serve it. Make sure that all perishable foods, which include meats, cheeses, cut fruits and vegetables, and casseroles, are put into the fridge or freezer within two hours. That time period shrinks to one hour if the ambient air temperature is above 90°F. Divide the food into smaller portions so it cools quickly. A whole turkey or a large casserole will take too long to cool down, meaning it can stay in the danger zone of 40°F to 140°F too long. In that temperature range, pathogenic bacteria … [Read more...]
Alternate Turkey Preparation Methods From the USDA
The USDA is offering tips on alternate turkey preparation methods for the Thanksgiving holiday. If you choose to prepare turkey other than roasting it in the oven, read carefully to avoid food poisoning or injuries. Whatever method you use, make sure that the turkey reaches 165°F, a temperature that must be read with a reliable and accurate thermometer. First, do not cook the turkey in brown paper bags from the grocery store. That product can emit toxic fumes and may cause a fire. The ink, glue and recycled materials in brown paper bags are especially toxic. Electric Roaster Oven If you choose to use an electric roaster oven, the cooking times and temperatures should be the same as in a conventional oven. But always read the user manual for the manufacturer's instructions. The … [Read more...]
