The debate on whether or not to wash raw poultry is a fierce one, but until recently there was no hard-and-fast data to tell us just how risky it is to wash poultry.  A recent study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) demonstrates that individuals are putting themselves at risk of illness when they […]

As recent blog posts suggest, there are dozens of food recall notices posted in the United States each month.  The Partnership for Food Safety Education has developed some fact sheets that they hope will help people sort through the information in recall notices and to take action to identify whether a recalled product is in […]

I have been answering many questions about the use of an atmospheric steam canner.  The University of Wisconsin-Madison conducted research showing that an atmospheric Steam Canner may be used to safely can naturally acid foods such as peaches, pears, and apples, or acidified-foods such as salsa or pickles.  The atmospheric steam canner uses only ~2 […]

In time for Food Safety Education Month (September) and back-to-school, the USDA has issued back-to-school food safety tips focused on….hand washing.  Why is Lesson #1 Hand Washing?  According to Dr. Mindy Brashears, USDA Under-Secretary for Food Safety, USDA research has found that consumers fail to properly wash their hands 97% of the time.  “Washing hands is one […]

Fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV of Morelos, Mexico is under investigation for a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections.  As of August 15, 2019, a total of 205 people with laboratory-confirmed Cyclospora infections associated with this outbreak have been reported from 11 states: CT (1), FL (50), GA (2), IA (2), […]

Federal public health officials have repeated warnings about pig ear treats for dogs as human illnesses related to the multi-branded products have sickened 127 people in 33 states in a multi-drug resistant Salmonella outbreak.  Thirty percent of humans affected (26) in the outbreak have required hospitalization, many of them children younger than 5 years old. FDA and Centers for Disease Control and […]

Courtesy Food Safety News A recent posting in Food Safety News tells a common tale: “She’s in the kitchen happily enough making some chocolate chip cookies.  Happy because her family loves them but also happy because she loves nibbling on some of the raw cookie dough.  It’s something she’s done ever since she was old enough […]