Valentine’s Day is coming up which means that many couples are making reservations for their favorite restaurant. Although the crumbs on the floor and the occasional sticky table might add to the “homey” atmosphere of your preferred mom and pop diner, you should think twice about what the kitchen might look like if the dining area is so filthy. You like the relaxed nature of the employees that shows when they prefer to handle your food without gloves; however, you should also consider how many “relaxed” food handlers tend to disregard those “Employees Must Wash Hands” signs hanging in the restrooms. Hopefully, you are trying to help your significant other remember this special night for how much you love them, not for how upset their digestive system feels. Here are some suggestions to help make your dining experience safer and more enjoyable:

• Take note of the dining area and restrooms. If they do not meet cleanliness standards, it’s probably a good sign that the kitchen is also in need of more than just a light dusting. You might consider eating elsewhere for your own safety.
• Only eat foods that are served to you hot. If the food is served to you at a lukewarm temperature, chances are that it was left sitting for too long and has allowed harmful bacteria to multiply.
• Make sure the staff does not touch your food or the tips of your silverware with their bare hands. It’s probably not a good idea to let them sample your drink either.
• Be wary of meat, eggs, oysters, or other raw foods that are undercooked.
• Wash your hands properly before and after eating.

And what about the doggie bag? If you and your loved one know that you will not be back home to refrigerate your leftovers within the next two hours, leave your food remains behind (even if it makes starving children in other countries cry.) If your leftovers do make it home, make sure that you reheat the goods to at least 165 degrees F. With leftovers, always keep the “Temperature Danger Zone” in mind–the range of temperature that bacteria thrives in, usually falling between 40 and 140 degrees F. Make sure to keep your food above or below this range.

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

–Madelyn Tucker

Sources: NSF.org, FDA.gov

It’s Christmas and you want to spend your precious days off in your pajamas wrapping presents and making cookies.  Nobody blames you for that!  But if you are the kind of person whose cookie dough never makes it to the oven because you opt for savoring every morsel raw rather than cooked, there might be a problem.  Then again, there might not.

When it comes to eating raw cookie dough, there seems to be a debate in the food safety world.  Some argue that you should not, under any circumstances, eat food that contains raw eggs because there is always a risk of Salmonella enteritidis, a strain of bacteria that causes foodborne illness which can sometimes become serious, especially for children, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses, and the elderly who are highly susceptible because of their impairment of immune responses.

Others, however, think that because the chances of coming across an egg contaminated with Salmonella is so rare, you should be able to consume foods made with raw eggs freely, even if you are taking a chance.  To give you an idea of the risk you are taking, statistics show that “only 1 of every 20,000 eggs might contain the bacteria. So, the likelihood that an egg might contain [Salmonella] is extremely small – 0.005% (five one-thousandths of one percent).  At this rate, if you’re an average consumer, you might encounter a contaminated egg once every 84 years.”  And even if you do encounter an infected egg, you still might not even become sick.

So what does this mean?  Simply, it means make your choice.  If you are worried about Salmonella, simply refrigerate your eggs, cook them thoroughly when you use them, and don’t eat them raw.  If you’re up for the risk, eat away.  Just don’t blame me when you have a run-in with Salmonella enteritidis during your vacation—or in the next 84 years.

–Aubrey Pontious

This is me. Well not really, but you can imagine what it would be like if it was . . .

Sources: farmprogress.com, incredibleegg.org, plosone.org

‘Tis the season to be jolly, but being jolly is not so easy when dealing with symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting. People often mistake symptoms like these for “the stomach flu” because they don’t associate these types of symptoms with food eaten 2-3 days prior to getting sick. StateFoodSafety.com’s food safety students know, however, that there is no such thing as the stomach flu. In fact, the most likely culprit of gastrointestinal distress is foodborne illness (or “food poisoning,” if you want it to seem more exciting). Because they are often mistaken for our imagined foe, the stomach flu, very few cases of foodborne illnesses are ever reported. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that “each year roughly 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases.”

You would think that with all of the medical advances in the world today that foodborne illnesses wouldn’t be such a problem, but despite the attention that has been placed on food safety in recent years, Americans continue to suffer. The National Environmental Health Association states that “although significant advancements have been made over the last 20 years to educate food service workers about safe food handling practices, there has been no change since 1984 in the top 3 causes of foodborne illness: … poor personal hygiene, improper holding temperatures, [and] improper cooling procedures.”

Facts like these illustrate the necessity of learning proper food safety practices. Whether you work in the restaurant industry or cook for your family, an awareness of food safety can keep customers and family members far from the exasperations caused by foodborne illness. The National Restaurant Association predicts an increase in restaurant dining with each coming year. Because most cases of foodborne illnesses come from restaurants, food safety education is a top priority. Although making food at home is typically safer when considering food safety, it is equally important to be well-educated in food safety practices when cooking food for yourself and those you love. This is especially true for households with small children, elderly family members, pregnant women, and patients with compromised immune systems.

Foodborne illnesses, although seemingly rampant, are simple to avoid if you know the causes: poor personal hygiene, lack of cleanliness in the cooking area, improper preparation of foods, and receiving food from an unsafe source. Thwarting these sources is vital. To do so, the CDC has provided these helpful tips:

1. Clean: wash hands, cooking tools (cutting boards, knives, and utensils), fruits and vegetables before preparing food.
2. Separate: Avoid cross-contamination by keeping raw meat and poultry far from other foods.
3. Cook: When cooking meat, poultry and eggs, do so thoroughly. Ground meat should reach an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees, and eggs should be cooked until the yolk is firm.
4. Chill: Separate leftovers into shallow containers and refrigerate promptly.
5. Report: Reporting foodborne illness to your local health department is an important way to keep you and the people in your community safe from additional foodborne illnesses, especially if a restaurant is suspected of improperly handling food.

By knowing and understanding the causes of foodborne illness and following these tips for prevention, you can practice safe food handling skills and get back to being jolly!

–Aubrey Pontious

Prior to this week I didn’t believe there could be a nationally-recognized day or week that needed more attention than the mid-August wonder that is Sneak Some Zucchini On To Your Neighbor’s Porch Night.  I have never been more wrong—ever.  This week, December 4-10, is National Handwashing Awareness Week 2011 and Global Handwashing Day is December 15.  Nothing has helped stay the advancement of disease and infection more than handwashing.  This is a week that needs to be brought to the forefront of all holidays (that means you, Arbor Day).

The number one thing we can do to prevent the spread of disease is regular, thorough handwashing.  As a teacher of junior high and high school-aged kids, I come in contact with just about every bug out there.  When the kids touch their desks, my desk, their papers, the door knobs, the blackboard, and everything else they seem to put their hands on, I find myself unable to avoid their germs.  Couple that with what my own young children bring home and everything they and their friends share; it’s a wonder I’m not permanently sick.  Our bodies are amazing at keeping infections and diseases at bay, but sometimes they need our help.  National Handwashing Week and StateFoodSafety.com want to give our bodies a hand (pun intended) when it comes to staying healthy.

Handwashing is simple and easy. There are only  a few steps:

1. Wet hands with warm water.
2. Apply soap.
3. Rub hands for 15-20 seconds. Remember to get under the fingernails and the backs of hands and wrists. For food handlers (and brain surgeons), washing the forearms is advisable.
4. Rinse.
5. Use a single-use paper towel or air dryer to dry.

That’s it! Nothing fancy. No fines to pay, no hoops to jump through; just easy common-sense practices. Now when should we wash our hands? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests the following:

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal or animal waste
• After touching garbage

This single, simple, and easy practice is the number one prevention tool against disease. Happy National Handwashing Week! Go out there and hug someone you love . . . then wash your hands.

-Tim Snarr

Caroling with plates of goodies is a favorite tradition of many Americans during this holiday season. Benevolent folks load decorative plates with all kinds of delights to deliver to neighbors. It is a time when good-will brims as holiday treats are passed around.

Speaking of passing things around, you may not know that about one in fifteen Americans, per year, is infected by norovirus (you may have heard it called “the stomach flu.”).The FDA reports that the contraction of norovirus, as well as other highly contagious foodborne illnesses,  happens in a very short period of time and the chances of getting it increase when exposed to crowds common during holidays (think performances, school class parties, rest home visits, dinners, recitals, and vacations). Symptoms of norovirus infection include stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and some less distressful nuisances.

The weakened immune system of someone visited in a retirement center or elementary school may not be able to successfully fight off a foodborne illness like norovirus. So it pays to prepare holiday food with just as much care as a professional restaurant worker. Wash hands thoroughly with hot water and soap before and after touching food or utensils. Pay attention to cooking temperatures and transport both hot and cold items with extra care to avoid bringing food into the Temperature Danger Zone (41°-135° F) for too long.

Although the FDA has approved hand sanitizer to clean off hand germs in hospitals, substances that touch hands during cooking (water and some foods) interfere with the effectiveness of alcohol-based sanitizers. Using hot water and soap are required to wash hands appropriately, and gloves never replace frequent and thorough hand washing!

Washing hands before delivering treats both sweet and savory, ensures that sniffles, coughs, and bugs will not be as common as holiday carols, handshakes, and hugs.

-Julia Simmons, Home Economist, M.Ed.

Learn More: CDC.gov, FDA.gov

Photo Source

We’re completely aware that Thanksgiving has come and gone, but the blissful gluttony of delicious holiday delights has only just begun. If anything, Thanksgiving is a but a bookend to a smorgasbord that doesn’t end until after New Year’s. For some, however (namely the cooks), the holidays mean months of dreaded epicurean agony. Naturally, those in the kitchen lean towards preparing as much food as they can before big events. Though not all food stores well, there are a handful of dishes that do–even to the point of tasting better if prepared in advance: turkey gravy, pie, unbaked rolls, baked casseroles, stuffing, vegetable platters, salad dressings, and dips, just to name a few. But before jumping in and getting too excited about all the time you’ll save by preparing your food ahead of time, consider this list of Dos and Don’ts to keep your meal safe:

DOs:

1. Thoroughly clean your refrigerator and freezer.  This not only gives you the room you will need to store your delicious morsels, but it will also keep them from absorbing the smells and bacteria of a dirty cooling device. If you’re extra worried about smells, let a partially opened box of baking soda accompany your food just to be safe (the sodium bicarbonate in baking soda absorbs odors like a champ).
2. After preparing hot food, allow it to cool before placing it in the refrigerator or freezer.  Also, refrigerate or freeze food in shallow containers.
3. Defrost the turkey in the refrigerator—or, if you’re running low on time, in cold water.  Follow the USDA’s chart for turkey’s defrosting times.
4. Reheat all hot foods to a minimum of 165 degrees, including the center of the dish.
5. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold (140 degrees or above for hot foods; 40 degrees or below for cold foods).

DON’Ts:

1. Interrupt cooking.  Partially cooked foods cool to temperatures that bacteria thrive in.  Be safe by cooking foods completely the first time.
2. Overstuff your refrigerator or freezer.  Doing so will not only put your food at risk by heating up appliances’ internal temperature, which allows bacteria to grow, but it will waste energy by making your appliances work harder to maintain a cooler temperature.
3. Thaw food anywhere except in the refrigerator, cold water, or the microwave.
4. Let food sit out.  Bacteria starts growing in food only two hours after it is prepared.
5. Stress.  Following these basic rules will save you time and energy, which will in turn allow you to enjoy, with your guests, a day of blissful gluttony.

–Aubrey Pontious

Sources: thekitchn.com, dummies.com, FSIS.usda.gov, renewalblesathome.com

We love leftovers, hence the title of this post. But we know that it is better to have eaten once and thrown away than to never have loved (um, we mean eaten) at all. If you are going to do turkey sandwiches, soups, and casseroles this year, here’s what you need to know:

• Bacteria multiply invisibly, increasing up to 2 times their number every 20 minutes, especially when left in the Temperature Danger Zone (e.g. your counter). The acceptable amount of time for food to be left unrefrigerated is less than 2 hours; any longer and it should be thrown out.
• Proper care of leftovers begins right after the food is initially served. Home Economics classes all over the county counsel home cooks to use shallow, sealed dishes to store leftovers. This enables food to cool quickly once it is placed in the fridge.
• If the food is going to be saved for longer than just a few days, it is best to consult a food storage chart (available here), which gives standard lengths of time for refrigeration and freezing. For example, fresh, raw, and cooked eggs each have a different expiration date acknowledged on the chart.
• A great way to keep track of expiration dates of items kept in refrigeration is to date them with a permanent marker on a disposable bag or piece of tape affixed to the storage container. Date them with the date they are placed in storage as well as the last possible date the food can be used, according to the food storage chart.
• Once it’s time to take leftovers out of the freezer or refrigerator, food safety standards prompt a cook to re-heat food items until  there is steam coming off their surface or until they reach 165° F.
• When using your microwave to reheat items, first cover the food to allow the heat to disburse evenly, stir occasionally to reduce cold spots (which would more likely contain bacteria) and check the temperature of the food with a food thermometer to ensure the goal temperature of 165° F has been achieved.

Good luck to you all in love as well as sandwiches!

Julia Simmons, M.Ed., Home Economist contributed to this article.

Sources: FSIS.usda.gov Preparation, FSIS.usda.gov Be Food Safe, FDA.gov Downloads

A lone solitary figure lay prostrate on the cold floor. Adrenaline was coursing through his veins as he forced himself to breathe deep, in attempts to quiet the shakes and regain a semblance of control. Sanity had just retaken control; however, only moments before death seemed a suitable alternative.

How he came to this predicament is still unknown, although all symptoms point to a flawlessly orchestrated operation put in motion hours before. What is unfortunately true, and incredibly disgusting, is that the assailant, Norovirus, was likely transferred through feces being ingested in the mouth . . . my mouth. The vehicle? Food.

My office door today, at StateFoodSafety.com, has a sign saying “Here lies one of our own, fallen from foodborne illness.” (It doesn’t. See above.) The reality is I shook someone’s hand, touched a doorknob, changed a diaper, touched a keyboard or a host of any other things infected by Norovirus, and didn’t wash my hands either well enough, or often enough.

So, unless you want to spend the Holiday season slumped against a cold toilet, confident your eyes will explode with every projectile vomit or the dreaded dry heaves, please take note of the following:

• Norovirus is the number one foodborne illness in the United States, occurring more than 20 million times a year.
• The “24-hour flu” or “stomach flu” is actually most likely Norovirus.
• Norovirus is highly contagious and causes acute gastroenteritis, or inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
• The most common symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain.  Vomiting and diarrhea can occur many times a day (this has been personally verified).
• Anyone can get Norovirus.
• Most people get better within 1 to 2 days (thankfully, this has also been personally verified).
• Because of vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration is a common secondary illness, making it important to constantly drink small sips of electrolyte enhanced water like Gatorade.
• Norovirus is spread through contact with a contaminated surface, and then touching the mouth, or by having direct contact with an infected person, such as sharing food.

So, this Thanksgiving and Holiday season, unless you want to watch other people eat delicious Turkey legs, while you cringe and run to the john, please adhere to these tips to prevent the spread of Norovirus.

• Wash your hands.  Wash them often.  Use soap and water, especially after using the restroom or changing diapers, and always before preparing and eating food.
• Alcohol based hand sanitizers are helpful as supplements to soap and water, but are not a replacement.
• Carefully wash fruits and vegetables.
• Disinfect kitchen surfaces often using a bleach-based household cleaner or making your own solution by adding ¼ cup of bleach to 2 ¼ cups of water.  Just pour the solution into a spray bottle and disinfect surfaces.

–Bryan Chapman

This story is true. If you would like more information, jump to our facts source: CDC.gov

It’s time to come to grips with the fact that the holidays are coming. They’re almost here, in fact! We, your friends and food safety resources here at StateFoodSafety.com want to you to go into this, the most festive time of year, prepared and ready to keep your loved ones safe from foodborne illness. So we’ve put together some tricks and tips to get you into–and through–the holidays, all with a smile on your face.

Let’s start with your fridge. Just like a turkey cooks more evenly when it is only lightly stuffed with vegetables, a fridge cools better when its contents are loosely packed. Proper spacing of the items in your refrigerator will help keep items at 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or below. When thawing turkey, it’s best to plan ahead. Thaw the bird in the refrigerator, allowing yourself 1 day for every 5 pounds of turkey. Make sure the bird is on the bottom of the fridge, to avoid cross contamination from dripping and condensation. Leaving the sealed packaging around the bird will help as well. If you don’t have room at the bottom of the fridge, or you have produce drawers taking up all your refrigerator real-estate, place your turkey in a rimmed baking pan or large bowl that will contain any condensation or juices. Wash the container immediately after the turkey is removed. Do not use it to store or thaw other items.

Here are some more tips to keep your holidays merry and bright:

• Keep paper towels and a spray bottle of liquid (clearly marked as hazardous and kept away from children), with 1 tsp of bleach and a quart of water–feel free to multiply this as needed–for cleaning up meat juices on kitchen surfaces.
• Set aside a separate hamper or bag for soiled kitchen linens, including aprons, that may have become contaminated during food preparation.
• Keep a sink of hot, soapy water ready for dirty dishes between dishwashing cycles.
• Put out-of-season decor and other non-useful kitchen items in stackable, sealable storage bins for protection from breakage and contamination. This will also keep the decor from become a physical contaminate itself (by preventing broken shards or pieces from entering food).
• Print additional holiday cleaning checklists, like this one, to follow before and after the festivities.

And don’t forget, accessible, healthy snacks and wholesome beverages enable convenient nutrition for family members throughout the holiday season. Always wash hands before eating or handling foods to prevent sniffles, coughs, and foodborne illnesses. Practicing these tips in your home will let guests and families know their health is more important than the holiday rush. Good luck and best wishes!

Julia Simmons, M.Ed., Home Economist contributed to this column

Sources: FDA.gov, foodsafety.asn.au

With Thanksgiving around the corner, hearts turn to family, friends, and—let’s face it—food!  A plump and juicy turkey overflowing with stuffing is often the vehicle that brings people together year after year, but, if not prepared with proper care, it can also be the vehicle for foodborne illnesses which will upset the stomachs of both the dinner guests and the cook.  In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that a whopping 76 million people in America get sick from disease-causing substances in food every year. Don’t let your loved ones fall victim.

Of all Thanksgiving foods, stuffing is infamous for housing the bacteria that causes foodborne illnesses.  Why?  Because if not cooked long enough the cavity of a turkey fails to reach 165 degrees—the temperature strong enough to kill bacteria.  As a result, the stuffing inside of a turkey’s cavity becomes the playground for bacteria. The good news is that, through a few safe practices, bacteria can be destroyed.  The easiest way to prevent bacteria from getting into your stuffing is to keep it far, far away from the bird.  Cooking it in a separate dish, although not as fun or traditional, is safest.  But if you choose to stuff, the USDA has provided some helpful guidelines:

1. Prepare stuffing before placing it into the turkey, but stuff the bird quickly after your stuffing has cooked. Do not attempt to cool the stuffing after it’s cooked, or bacteria can begin to accumulate in large numbers, which will speedily grow inside the bird’s cavity.
2. Stuff the turkey loosely. The USDA recommends using only 3/4 cup of stuffing per pound of turkey.
3. Cook the stuffed turkey immediately–at no lower than 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Using a thermometer, make sure the cavity of the bird reaches a minimum of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Although turkeys often come equipped with a nifty red button that pops up when the turkey is “done,” they are not always accurate. So use a thermometer to be safe.
5. Let the turkey stand for 20 minutes after it is cooked. For at least 10 minutes, the residual heat inside the bird will continue to cook the meat. This also allows for better juice retention, yielding a moister bird.
6. Refrigerate any leftovers within 2 hours, storing them in a shallow Tupperware and eating them within 3-4 days. Reheat leftovers to a minimum of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

By following these simple steps, foodborne illness with be held at bay and friends and family will thank you for the safely prepared holiday fare. Enjoy this delicious season of thanks!

–Aubrey Pontious

Photo Source: NY Times Blog

For more information, see our sources: NDDIC, USDA FSIS