The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advocates hand washing with plain soap and water as the best way to prevent the spread of infections and decrease the risk of getting sick.  Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is essential, especially after going to the bathroom, after handling any food or […]

With so many meals consumed at home these days, there are bound to be mishaps, such as a spilled glass of milk or a sandwich dropped on the floor.  So it’s a good time to revisit the age-old 5-second rule.  This isn’t the in-bounding rule in basketball, but a food hygiene standard in some households that states that […]

Now, perhaps more than ever, we want to protect ourselves and our families from a foodborne illness.  While there is no evidence that the coronavirus is a foodborne disease, there can be harmful bacteria in food and protecting against an illness such as salmonellosis is always important.  One of the best defenses against a foodborne illness is […]

The last several posts have focused on clarifying safe produce handling recommendations for consumers and the start of the growing season.  When planning our grocery store or farm market trips, does organically grown produce present any food-safety advantages? The International Food Information Council offers some helpful tips in response to recent media attention contrasting the health benefits of organic and […]

We’ve all heard a lot recently about hand washing as an important step in illness prevention.  Effective hand washing starts with soap and clean, running water.  Either bar soap or liquid soap will work.  Wet hands with clean water and apply soap.  When we place unclean hands in water, nothing really happens.  Add soap and scubbing […]

We know that hand washing is important to help prevent illness.  What about washing meat, poultry, and seafood?  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that food safety mistake #3 is washing meat, chicken, or turkey.  Why it’s a mistake: Washing raw meat, chicken, turkey, or eggs can spread germs to your sink, countertops, and other surfaces […]

There are dangerous food safety mistakes that we can all avoid to help keep our family and friends safe, now and at any time.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a top 10 list of dangerous food safety mistakes, and we are looking at some easy tips to prevent those mistakes.  In the last blog […]

We all want to keep our families safe and healthy, especially in this time when the coronavirus presents such a real need to do so.  No one wants to end up at the doctor’s office or the hospital with a foodborne illness* (*There is no credible evidence that the coronavirus is spread by food or food […]

We return today to handwashing, since that seems to be such an important response to the coronavirus and COVID-19, and some good news and fun for a Friday. The good news: so many sources are sharing consistent (and evidence-based) messages about food safety and nutrition.  Many of these messages are ‘old friends’, and practicing food safety and healthy […]

In this time of the coronavirus, are fresh fruits and vegetables safe to eat?  Yes!  There is no reason to assume that fresh fruits and vegetables are unsafe because there isn’t any evidence that the coronavirus is transmitted by food.  Regardless of where fresh produce originates, around the corner or around the world, fruits and vegetables […]