Inspection of Food: Who’s Responsible?
Local, state, federal, and international agencies all have a role in ensuring food safety and quality in the United States. These agencies regulate the use of chemicals and technology based on...
Category: Food
The Gut Microbiome and Its Role in Health
Your gut microbiome could cause disease or make a disease get worse. The gut microbiome is a combination of bacteria, viruses, protists, and other microorganisms that live in your gut. Bacteria is a...
Get Your Calcium-Rich Foods
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate dietary recommendations describes the Dairy Group to include milk, yogurt, cheese, lactose-free milk, fortified soy milk, and yogurt. This group...
Drying Foods
Food drying is one of the oldest methods of preserving food for later use. It can either be an alternative to canning and freezing or complement these methods. Drying food is simple, safe, and easy...
Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)
Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) is required for many foods found in your local grocery store. COOL gives consumers information about the origin of their foods. Food operations such as restaurants,...
Food Allergies
What Is a Food Allergy? A food allergy is an abnormal reaction to food, even a very small amount. The body’s disease-fighting (immune) system mistakenly thinks the food is harmful and produces...
June Is National Dairy Month
June is recognized as National Dairy Month, which started in 1937 to promote drinking milk. It is a great way to start the summer with nutrient-rich dairy foods, including milk, yogurt, or cheese....
Tighten Your Lids – But Not Too Tight
According to So Easy to Preserve, “When using two-piece lids, place the treated lid on the filled jar, center it, and hold it in place with fingers. Then screw down the band until it is fingertip...
Canning Tools
Lid Lifter/Lid Wand The canning lid lifter/lid wand is a magnet attached to a short plastic stick and is a useful tool for lifting metal lids from hot water. Lid wand brands include Back to Basics,...
Say “No” to Old Pickle Recipes
The Question “I recently made homemade dill pickles by my grandmother’s recipe; I have made pickles by this recipe for a very long time. This year the pickles were bubbling when I opened...
Pressure Canning Revisited
A frequent question to the Home & Garden Information Center: “I canned my green beans in a water bath canner. Are they safe?” Often this question is prefaced by “My mother and...
Why Mason-type Canning Jars
The major reason we recommend Mason-type canning jars is our experience with them and their decreased rate of breakage compared to mayonnaise jars, salad dressing jars, spaghetti sauce jars, or...