Foodborne Illnesses: Bacteria
What is Foodborne Illness? Foodborne illness often shows itself as flu-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or fever. Often people may not recognize that the illness is caused by...
Category: Safe Handling
Food Irradiation
New types of harmful bacteria or evolving forms of older ones that can cause serious illness have led scientists to develop technologies that can help safeguard the nation’s food supply. A...
Foodborne Illnesses: Viruses
Viral Gastroenteritis Gastroenteritis means inflammation of the stomach and small and large intestines. Viral gastroenteritis is an infection caused by a variety of viruses that result in vomiting...
Preparing Food for a Crowd
Your family may enjoy meals, day after day, and never get sick from foodborne illness. Then comes a big family gathering or a large party. You are handling larger amounts of food; your refrigerator...
Botulism
What is Botulism? Botulism is a food poisoning caused by a toxin produced by the bacteria, Clostridium botulinum. C. botulinum and its spores are everywhere. It is prevalent in soil and water...
Food Safety Answers for College Students
Is it safe to eat pizza that was left out overnight? Will I get sick if I eat a hamburger that is still pink inside? College students living away from home for the first time may be looking for...
Food Safety in Power Outages
A power outage may occur during a seasonal storm such as a hurricane, tornado or flood, or may simply be caused by work being done on electric lines. Whatever the cause, the following...
Teaching Children About Food Safety
One of the best ways to teach food safety is to practice it and to be vocal about why it is important to practice. Help your children understand that although we cannot see germs, they can make us...
Mailing Perishable Foods
Everyone loves receiving packages in the mail. Sometimes they are gifts of food, either homemade or from mail order. When your package contains baked goods or shelf-stable canned items, the lucky...
Food Safety for Travelers Going Abroad
Whether on vacation or on business, no one wants to get sick when traveling abroad. The main source of infection is contaminated food or water. High-risk destinations are the developing countries of...
Food Safety Pitfalls at Thanksgiving & Beyond
Avoid common pitfalls that can turn a festive Thanksgiving meal into a foodborne illness disaster! Preparing and cooking a turkey safely can determine whether your family and friends simply enjoy a...
Safety of Stored Foods
The most frequently asked questions on food safety are about food storage. How long is it safe to store leftovers in the refrigerator? Is it safe to eat that meat found in the back of the freezer?...