Archive
January 2013
Tackling Food Safety: Keeping Your Food Safe on Game Day
Super Bowl Sunday is a great American tradition, and a great way to bring together the three Fs: football, friends, and food.
Resolve to Be Food Safe in 2013
One in six Americans is affected by food poisoning each year, resulting in an estimated 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 preventable deaths.
December 2012
Reusable Grocery Bags: Keep ‘Em Clean While Going Green
The trend of swapping disposable grocery bags for cloth and plastic-lined reusable bags has become an increasingly popular “green” alternative. Reusable bags reduce waste, but how safe are they for our health?
Holiday Food Safety: Keep Bacteria Off Your Menu
The holidays often mean family, fun, and food. But beware – bacteria can lurk in holiday buffet goodies and cause foodborne illness. Follow these guidelines for group platters to protect your guests from harmful foodborne bacteria.
November 2012
The Good, The Bad, The Reheated: Cooking and Handling Leftovers
Holiday dinners are a time to enjoy friends, family and good food. And while leftovers can make quick and tasty meals, it’s important to remember to refrigerate them promptly and reheat properly."
Thanksgiving Holiday Help: Plan Ahead
Let’s face it, in November, a turkey will most likely find its way onto your menu. Planning ahead can help ensure that your special meal is successful, safe, and stress-free.
October 2012
If you've made the decision to feed your baby using infant formula, it’s important to know the facts.
Tips for Tailgating: Hot Dog Safety Basics
Before you grab your bun and favorite toppings, take a look at the questions and answers below to keep you and your loved ones safe while enjoying this fan favorite.
September 2012
Found a Problem With Your Food? USDA Wants To Know About It
Have you ever opened a package from the grocery store to find that something wasn’t right about it, and then wondered who to call to report a problem? The company’s toll-free number, the grocery store that sold it, or someone else? If that product involves meat, poultry, or a processed egg product, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service just made it easier consumers to alert the agency to food safety problems, anytime of day or night.
August 2012
Mythbusters: Debunking Myths about Food Safety in the Home!
Whether it’s about microwaving, washing bagged greens, using a food thermometer, or refreezing foods, you hear a lot of things about food safety that aren’t true.
No ants, no bees, no food poisoning! What better way to celebrate a beautiful summer day than with a picnic outside at the park, at the beach or even in your own backyard. Here are some tips to keep your picnic perfectly safe:
Plan ahead so you don’t forget essential items such as a food thermometer, cooler chest with ice, plenty of clean utensils, storage containers for leftovers, paper towels, and trash bags. Find out ahead of time if you’ll have running water, grills, picnic tables, and trash receptacles at the site.
June 2012
Keeping food safe when the power goes out
The good news is that the National Weather Service says that competing climate factors suggest a less active hurricane season this year compared to many in recent years. The bad news is that it doesn’t take a hurricane to knock power out. Spring and summer storms often do it very effectively.
But, even when the power goes out, your refrigerator and freezer can help you and your family avoid food poisoning, but only if you are ready for the emergency and know how to react.
May 2012
In anticipation of the unofficial beginning of the summer grilling season on Memorial Day weekend, here are some of the most frequently asked questions that we receive about grilling.
Cook Your Mother’s Day Cookies!
April 2012
The Bad Bug Book provides current information for both the general public and health professionals about the major known agents that cause food borne illness in the U.S.
Spring Celebrations: Handling Leftovers
March 2012
Spring Celebrations: What’s on Your Menu?
February 2012
Be a Food Safe Office Mate: Help Keep the Office Refrigerator Clean
Challenge Yourself to Cook It Safe! Tips for Cooking with a Microwave or Conventional Oven
Cupid is Coming! Tips for a Romantic—and Safe—Dinner
January 2012
Is Your Food Safe to Eat for the Big Game?
Resolve to Be Food Safer in the New Year
December 2011
Don’t Let Yersiniosis Spoil Your Holidays!
November 2011
How to Handle Ready-to-Eat Bagged Produce
Turkey FUNdamentals: Leftovers
Turkey FUNdamentals: Deep Fat Frying a Turkey
Turkey FUNdamentals: Top Questions for Cooking a Turkey
Turkey FUNdamentals: Planning for Thanksgiving
October 2011
Avoid “Nightmares” on Halloween: Food Safety Tips
How to Prevent Listeriosis Outbreaks
Avoid Foodborne Illness when Traveling Abroad
September 2011
Getting to the Core of the Issue: Apple Juice and Arsenic
When Preparing Convenience Foods, Cook It Safe!
August 2011
Mythbusters: Learn the Truth about Food Safety in Your Home
Keep Food Poisoning from Ruining your Vacation
July 2011
Check Your Steps: Chill: How to Pack a Cooler to Prevent Food Poisoning
Check Your Steps: Separate Raw Meats from Other Foods
Check Your Steps: Wash Hands and Surfaces Often
Check Your Steps: Cook to Keep Your Family Safer from Food Poisoning
June 2011
New Multimedia Campaign Aims to Reduce Food Poisoning
Barbecue Basics: Keeping Bacteria at Bay
Sneaky Salmonella: It’s Common, Costly, and Preventable
May 2011
Cooking Meat? Check the New Recommended Temperatures
Food Labels Are Serious Business
Have Food Allergies? Read the Label
Get Food Safety Answers on Your Smart Phone
April 2011
Spring Cleaning the Office Refrigerator
Eggs: Reducing the Risk of Illness from Salmonella
Spring Traditions: Serving Brisket Safely
March 2011
Spring Traditions: Serving Ham Safely
St. Patrick’s Day: Celebrate with Corned Beef
Being a busy mom I rely heavily on two things: leftovers and the microwave. There’s much more to the safe handling of leftovers than most people realize, and following a few simple tips can save you—and your loved ones—from foodborne illness.
February 2011
Drinking Raw Milk: More Details on the Risks
In response to my recent blog, Drinking Raw Milk: It’s Not Worth the Risk, we received a number of questions. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions from our readers, along with my answers.
Drinking Raw Milk: It's Not Worth the Risk
If you’re thinking about adding raw milk to your diet (or your family’s diet), it’s important for you to understand the risks of drinking raw milk.
Ensure Food Safety When the Power Goes Out
Snow, sleet, ice, and wind can wreak havoc on our every day lives. Winter! It’s a fact of modern life: sometimes the power goes out. If your power goes out, knowing how to keep food safe can help minimize the loss of food and reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
Super Bowl, Slow Cookers, and Food Safety: An Unbeatable Team
This time of year, the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline receives lots of questions related to slow cooking. To make sure that you and your party guests stay safe, I wanted to share a few of these slow cooker questions and answers with you.
January 2011
Homemade Baby Food – Make it Safely
Many parents are discovering that homemade baby foods can be a nutritious and often more economical alternative to baby foods available in stores. follow these simple steps for selecting, preparing, and storing homemade baby food safely.
Fighting Food Poisoning: One of The Most Important Things You Can Do
What is one of the most important thing you can do to fight food poisoning? The answer is WASH YOUR HANDS. Over and over again, studies have shown that handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of many types of infection and illness—including foodborne illness.
What Does the New Food Safety Law Mean for You?
Just before Christmas, the House of Representatives and the Senate passed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, which President Obama signed into law on January 4, 2011. Here is a quick look at some of the provisions in the new law.
December 2010
Preparing Chitterlings for the Holidays
For some people, chitterlings are a reminder of home, family, culture, and holidays -- and either you really love them or you don't. Chitterlings are the small intestines of a hog and are especially popular in the southern United States.
Homemade Eggnog: Make it Safely
Homemade eggnog is a tradition in many families during the holiday season. But each year this creamy drink causes many cases of Salmonella. The ingredient responsible? Usually raw or undercooked eggs.
The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline talked to about 350 people on Thanksgiving Day about thawing, preparing and storing turkey. Most people were right on track and just needed some reassuring about handling the big bird. Some people, however, called about situations that could be disastrous – or even deadly.
Holiday Parties: Spread Cheer, Not Foodborne Illness
It's that time of year when the parties never seem to end. They're great occasions for exchanging good will and gifts – but not the dangerous bacteria that cause foodborne illness.
What's Up with the FDA and Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages?
In November, the FDA issued warning letters to four companies that make alcoholic beverages with added caffeine, sometimes referred to as "caffeinated alcoholic beverages." Since the letters were issued, we have received a number of questions about caffeinated alcoholic beverages. Here are answers to three questions we hear frequently.
November 2010
Countdown to Thanksgiving: Cooking the Turkey
November is the busiest month of the year for those of us on the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline. During the week of Thanksgiving, we get lots of questions about how to safely cook a turkey. Here are answers to the questions we hear most often.
Countdown to Thanksgiving: Buying the Holiday Turkey
What would Thanksgiving be without the turkey? Most of us plan our entire holiday dinner around the turkey. That's a lot of pressure on one bird! Here's what you need to know when you go to the store to buy your holiday turkey.
Countdown to Thanksgiving: Plan Ahead
Thanksgiving is closer than you think. If you're thinking about having a traditional turkey dinner, now is the time to begin planning the big meal. Planning ahead can help ensure that the special meal is successful, safe, and stress-free.
How Dad Got Sick: A New Booklet and Video for Kids
As a parent, I try to do everything possible to keep my children safe from foodborne bacteria. That's why I’m excited about a new (and fun!) booklet and video from the USDA that teach kids about basic steps to food safety – and what happens when you don’t follow those steps.
October 2010
Keep Halloween Treats Safe, Not Scary
Even though it's not an official holiday, Halloween is much beloved by children and adults alike. What could be more fun than trick-or-treating, apple bobbing, or costume parties?
Children and Food Allergies: Awareness Can Save Lives
If you have a child with food allergies, you know how important it is to educate them and the adults in their lives (including teachers, caregivers, and coaches) about the basics of food allergies and reactions. What do you do to educate others about food allergies?
Food Safety: A Key Component to Healthy Aging
As a dietitian who previously worked with older adults, I experienced first-hand the importance of safe food handling from the kitchen to the dining room table. And, while it's certainly true that food safety is important for everyone, older adults need to be especially vigilant in their efforts to practice safe food handling.
Marinades: The Busy Cook's Friend
Whether you decide to grill, roast, or sauté it, marinating will make whatever you are cooking tastier. And, if you follow a few simple rules, you can make sure that your food is safe as well.
September 2010
Safe Cooking at High Altitudes
The higher you go, the longer it takes food to reach a safe temperature. Whether you live at a high altitude (as do one third of Americans) or vacation there for hiking, camping, or skiing, it’s important to have a food thermometer to make sure food reaches a safe minimum internal temperature.
Juice and Cider: Make Sure They're Safe
When fall arrives, many of us look forward to enjoying fresh apple cider and juices. While most people think of juices as healthy foods, since they provide many essential nutrients, certain types of juice could pose a health risk to your family.
It’s tailgate season — are you ready for the kick off? Planning is the key to keeping your food safe during a tailgate, so get your gear ready now.
As children head back to school this fall, parents and caretakers may wonder, “What's the most important thing that the kids should take to school with them?” From my perspective as a food safety specialist, I'd recommend an insulated lunch box as the best investment of the school year.
August 2010
Pregúntele a Karen for Food Safety Answers in Spanish
Pregúntele a Karen is a free online service that provides consumers with answers in Spanish to over 1,200 questions about food safety.
How can you make sure that eggs are safe when you’re eating out, especially with all of the egg recalls in the news? Here are some practical things that you can do to keep you and your family safe.
Seafood from Open Gulf Waters Is Safe to Eat
With the ongoing reopening of Gulf fisheries, fishermen are going back to work and Americans can confidently and safely enjoy Gulf seafood again. Consumers need to know that seafood from the Gulf of Mexico is safe and fishermen need to be able to sell their products with confidence.
Home-Canned Vegetables: Delicious and Safe
Canning is an excellent method of preserving your garden produce — if it’s done correctly and safely. If not, the vegetables you worked so hard to grow, harvest, and preserve could be deadly. Follow these tips to ensure that your canned vegetables don’t spoil and make you or your family sick.
What's Your Summer Food Safety IQ?
Summer holidays provide us with a much needed break from school and work, but that doesn't mean that we should take a break from being smart about food safety. Test your summer food safety IQ by taking this short quiz.
July 2010
Without color additives, colas wouldn't be brown, margarine wouldn't be yellow, and mint ice cream wouldn’t be green. Here at the FDA, we're committed to making sure the color additives in your food are safe
Salsa and Guacamole: Are They Safe?
Last week, my colleagues and I presented our research on foodborne outbreaks linked to salsa and guacamole. We received a lot of questions about our research and what it means for people who love salsa and guacamole. Here are some answers:
Food Safety at the Farmer's Market
Shopping at a farmer's market is a great way to get locally-grown, fresh fruit, vegetables, and other foods for you and your family. Here are some basic guidelines that you should follow to ensure that the farm-fresh food is also safe.
June 2010
Family reunions and picnics are great for the heart and soul but sometimes not for the body. Many foodborne illness outbreaks have been traced to food served at large family gatherings, for a number of different reasons:
Homemade Ice Cream – Make it Safely
Homemade ice cream is a treat many of us look forward to in summer. But each year that same treat causes many cases of Salmonella. The ingredient responsible? Usually raw or undercooked eggs.
Have a Happy, Food Safe Father’s Day!
The chef of your household might have the skills to cook the perfect burger, but do they know how to cook a delicious and safe burger? It's easy if you follow these simple steps.
Are Alfalfa Sprouts Safe to Eat?
Since the nationwide alfalfa sprout recall and the related Salmonella outbreak were announced on May 21, we have received a number of questions from consumers who are concerned about eating sprouts
It's Hurricane Season: Prepare to Keep Food Safe
The 2010 Hurricane Season in the Atlantic Ocean begins today, June 1. The experts are predicting a busier-than-usual hurricane season for this year. That makes it even more important to be prepared, particularly when it comes to safe food and water.
May 2010
Why Does USDA Recommend Using a Food Thermometer?
Is it done yet? How do you know when your hamburger is done? Because it's brown in the middle? Looking at the color of the food is not enough -- you have to use a food thermometer to be sure.
Getting In the Food Safety Discovery Zone
Question: What’s 40 feet long, bright yellow, and helps to keep you healthy?
Answer: No, it’s not an overgrown banana. It’s the USDA Food Safety Discovery Zone, also known as our Food Safety Mobile.
Protecting Yourself From Food Allergies
If you or a member of your family suffer from food allergies, you must protect yourself at all times. While some allergies are just irritating, approximately 30,000 Americans go to the emergency room each year to get treated for severe food allergies.
Mother’s Day Breakfast in Bed: Delicious and Safe
On Mother’s Day, many families have a tradition: the kids prepare and serve breakfast in bed for Mom. It’s a great opportunity not just to celebrate mothers but also to help kids learn the basic lessons of food safety. Besides, the goal is to serve a safe, delicious breakfast in bed – not give Mom a foodborne illness that will leave her sick in bed!
April 2010
Start at the Store: 7 Ways to Prevent Foodborne Illness
According to the CDC, foodborne ailments cause about 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,200 deaths nationwide each year. Here are some simple things that you can do while you are shopping for food to safeguard you and your family:
FoodNet: Getting the Big Picture on Foodborne Disease
Last week, we released a report on the foodborne illness data that we collected and analyzed for 2009. Here are two key findings from our report, along with tips on how you can reduce your risk of illness:
Questions and Answers About the HVP Recall
Since the hydrolyzed vegetable protein recall was announced on March 4, we have received many questions from consumers about HVP and the products that have been recalled. Here are some of the top questions that we’ve received:
As a veterinarian, and a pet owner, I understand how people feel about their pets. For many of us, our pets really are like members of our families. And I firmly believe that we should treat our pets like family when it comes to their food and food safety. It’s actually quite easy, when you know what to do:
March 2010
A Complex Mystery: Finding the Sources of Foodborne Disease Outbreaks
I work in a group at CDC that investigates foodborne illnesses in the United States — illnesses like salmonellosis and E. coli infection. One challenge we face during an outbreak investigation is trying to figure out the source of the outbreak.
What Do You Do If You Have a Recalled Product?
You may have seen a number of food recalls in the news lately. What should you do if you find a recalled food in your own home?
Meat in the Refrigerator: How Long Does It Last?
The most frequently asked question that we hear on the USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline is: How long can I keep meat in the refrigerator?