The USDA is offering food safety tips for consumers in the path of Tropical Storm Isaac. The storm will most likely be upgraded to a hurricane before it hits the Florida Keys and Tampa Bay area. Power outages and flooding can compromise the safety of stored food. And consumers should plan ahead to have food and water on hand that is safe to eat. USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elisabeth Hagen said, "storing perishable food at proper temperatures is crucial to food safety but can become difficult if you lose electricity for your refrigerator and freezer. For those living in Tropical Storm Isaac's projected path, we recommend stocking up on canned food [Ed. note: make sure you have a can opener!], bottled water, batteries, and dry ice." The government has compiled a fact sheet … [Read more...]