Opening Statement:
FACT…Every year, an estimated 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from eating contaminated food. Some people are more likely to get a foodborne illness (also called food poisoning) or get seriously ill. Listed below are some hard facts about food safety knowledge, and awareness.
Useful Information about Food
· The U.S. has one of the safest food supplies in the world, and eating nutritious foods is essential for good health.
· However, foods do occasionally become contaminated somewhere along the food-supply chain, on a farm, in a consumer’s home, or anywhere in between. This can include ready-to-cook foods, which are any foods whose packages or labels tell you to cook or bake them, such as frozen pizza and frozen, breaded raw shrimp.
· As with any food, a ready-to-cook food that has become contaminated with bacteria or other organisms that could make you sick might look and smell normal. Think along the lines of “just in case,” and follow the important safety tips listed below.
Freezing Contaminated Food WILL NOT Be Safe When You Cook It:
· Many kinds of bacteria can live even at freezing temperatures. If a frozen food contains enough bacteria that survive freezing, the food can make you sick, if you don’t cook it at temperatures high enough to kill the bacteria before you eat it. Follow the cooking instructions on the package to make sure that the food reaches hot enough temperatures all the way through, including in the center.
Since some ready-to-cook foods are partially cooked at the factory, will this kill any harmful bacteria that might have been present. NO, IT WILL NOT!
· Partial cooking at the factory makes foods more convenient (for example, by shortening cooking time), but it does not necessarily mean that all the ingredients have been cooked or that the cooking was necessarily done at temperatures high enough or for long enough to kill any harmful bacteria that may have been present.
Do I need to wash my hands when handling ready-to-cook foods? YES, YOU DO!
· You must wash your hands before and after handling any food. Not washing your hands can spread any bacteria that are present, either from the food to your hands and your surroundings or from your hands to the food.
Always Remember the Core Four Practices
· Right now, there may be an invisible enemy ready to strike, and it is called BAC (bacteria) and BAC can make people sick. In fact, even though consumers can’t see BAC, or smell it, or feel it, there are millions more already invading food products, kitchen surfaces, knives, and other utensils. But you have the power to fight bacteria and to reduce your risk of foodborne illness. Just simply follow the Core Four Practices of: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill
Closing Statement:
There is not much to say here except, do all of the above and find time to research on other ways to buy, prepare, and to store food safely. It is essential for food safety and to you and your family’s health. And don’t forget to WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE AND AFTER HANDING FOOD!
Source of Information: Various Google Searches
Until Next Week, Stay Safe and Well!
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