Summer storms can bring power outages. When power is out over a period of several hours or even days, food can spoil in the refrigerator and freezer. BE PREPARED Plan ahead for a possible power outage. Keep your freezer as full as possible. A full freezer will hold the food at a colder temperature even […]
food safety
Food Safety at Fairs or Festivals
Summer and early fall are filled with weekends of community fairs and festivals. Many of these events provide an opportunity to highlight music, nature, and achievements of both youth and adults. While these things are great – it is the food that really gets everyone so excited! Think “Rib Fest”, “Chili Cook-off”, funnel cakes, milk […]
Food Safety Tips for Farm Fresh Produce
Fresh vegetables and fruits available at farmers markets, or from a local orchard, can be an important part of our healthy diet. These foods provide fiber, vitamins and minerals to prevent chronic disease, help keep our weight down, and to maintain our bodies at an optimum level. On occasion, these fresh foods can be contaminated […]
Appetizing Asparagus
After a winter that seemed to never end, I’m ready for some locally grown fresh vegetables! Asparagus is one of the early producing vegetables and it’s now in season. Did you know that May is National Asparagus Month? Here are some things to keep in mind when selecting, storing and preparing asparagus. Asparagus has […]
Safe Picnics & Cook-Outs
Memorial Day Weekend, which traditionally marks the beginning of summer, is almost here and many of you will probably celebrate with picnics and cook-outs. This time of year also marks the re-emergence of some questionable food safety behaviors. If you could simply tuck a refrigerator under one arm and take it with you, there […]
CDC Data Shows Foodborne Illness is Still a Problem in the US
Despite new efforts to curb the rates of food poisoning in the United States, a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that overall rates are remaining stubbornly steady. As can be seen in the chart below, the rates of salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, and Yersinia infections reported in a sample […]