The University of Wisconsin issued recommendations a few years ago for safely using an atmospheric steam canner for home canning of naturally acid or acidified foods. The atmospheric steam canner has some advantages over a boiling water canner for processing high acid foods.  Research recommendations indicated that naturally acid foods, such as peaches, […]

    A recent recall of baby food in Canada due to the risk for botulism poisoning (February, 2019) following on 4 cases of infant botulism poisoning in the U.S. linked to honey-containing pacifiers (November, 2018) suggests that it’s a good time to remind everyone that botulism is dangerous for all ages, but particularly for infants […]

      A new article from the Center for Food Integrity (CFI) argues that what consumers want more than chocolate is transparency; consumers want to know where there food comes from and how it’s made. On this Valentine’s Day, arguing against chocolate might be a hard sell, but CFI does point to efforts by […]

    If dinner at your favorite restaurant is part of your Valentine’s Day plan, be sure food safety is on the menu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has prepared food safety tips for dining out so it is a memorable meal for the right reasons. Check for cleanliness. Choose a dining establishment that is […]

    Last year health officials reported that four infants in Texas developed botulism poisoning after consuming honey. The children, all less than a year old, had all been given pacifiers containing honey before they became sick. All four babies had to be admitted to hospitals for life-saving treatment. Botulism poisoning attacks the nervous system […]

You might have noticed something strange on days when it’s really, really cold and sunny – snow looks like it’s disappearing.  The snow isn’t melting, it’s too cold for that, but you know the snow pile is disappearing.  The disappearance is due to a phenomenon known as sublimation – when a solid goes directly to […]

  In my family, I tend to prefer the term ‘planned-overs’ to the term ‘leftovers’ – I am ‘planning’ to serve a soup or casserole again that week! Whether it’s food prepared at home, or more of a restaurant meal than can be eaten in one sitting, there are some basic steps to assure that […]

  Since 2000, backyard poultry flocks have been responsible for more than 70 Salmonella outbreaks in the United States, sickening more than 4,794 people, with 894 hospitalizations and seven deaths; a third of the illnesses were children younger than 5. In 2017 alone, backyard poultry caused 1,120 Salmonella illnesses with cases in 48 states, sending 249 […]

While handling food safely using the 4 basic steps of cook, clean, chill and separate is important, we encourage consumers to also use their senses to guide decision-making.  Does the product look and smell OK? Often a bright, attractive color leads a consumer to choose a particular package of beef from the grocery store. So, […]