Food Safety Tips to Help Avoid Getting a Sour Stomach
Does the thought of having to give up your independence and needing
the assistance of senior care make you sick to your stomach? Neutralize the pit
in your stomach, gain back your independence and set your confidence on fire by
getting Life Alert! While wearing their lightweight, waterproof emergency
pendant you can summon an help fast with just one touch of a button. No matter
what type of life threatening emergency you may face, Life Alert’s dispatch
team can send you the proper authorities fast, 24/7. Don’t ignore your gut;
when it comes to your personal protection, choose the best and get Life AlertProtection today!
When it comes to preventing food poisoning, you have more
control that you think; Real Simple1 is here
to help! Read below to learn more.
1. Read food labels closely. This means
reading labels, becoming knowledgeable about product ingredients and knowing
how meats and dairy products should be stored to avoid them going bad. Another
thing to look out for: “Avoid any cans or packages that are dented, opened or
leaking. Also, make sure to check expiration dates and avoid buying perishables
too close to expiration,” says Ibrahim.
2. Turn down offers of free samples.
The most important rule? “Never, ever, ever sample unwashed produce at the
store or farmers market. Often, items like berries are picked and packed right
in the field and are not even rinsed. They could be seething with bacteria and
potential contaminants,” says Ibrahim. Produce travels an average of 1,500
miles and passes through over 20 sets of hands from field to fork. Try to
purchase produce grown closer to home, as this may decrease the risk for
contamination.
3. Give your fruits and veggies a worthy wash.
Along with pesticides, many fruits and vegetables are also coated in wax to
help them hold up to long journeys. Pesticides, wax and dirt should be
thoroughly scrubbed or soaked off produce, which includes organic produce.
Opinions differ on the best way to clean fruits and veggies, but at least do
something to clean off harmful pesticides.
4. Don’t let your fowl go foul. After
birds are slaughtered, they soak in a salt bath, and some of the
bacteria-ridden liquid can make its way into your package of raw chicken. Clean
birds carefully to remove this, as not to splash water which could transmit
Salmonella and other pathogens. Always rewash hands after touching uncooked
meat. “Keep uncooked poultry, meat, and seafood wrapped in plastic bags or in a
container in the fridge to prevent leakage of juices and liquids,” advises
Ibrahim.
5. Be choosy about where you buy seafood. “Avoid purchasing pre-cooked seafood if they
are in a case next to uncooked seafood. The potential for cross-contamination
is too high. If you must, ask your handler to put on a fresh pair of gloves,”
says Ibrahim. Trust your nose and always reject seafood that smells suspicious.
Also, choose wild-caught seafood over farm-raised. A big surge of the available
seafood is being raised in closed quarters that can spread disease and bacteria
more rampantly than line caught counterparts.
6. Keep things cool. Heat is a breeding
ground for bacteria: they can grow exponentially in minutes in warm
environments. When transporting meat, dairy, and produce, carry a cooler bag
with you to the grocery store to keep your perishable products from overheating
on the way home. And if you’re planning a picnic or barbecue away from home,
make sure to pack plenty of ice. Perishable food should never sit out for more
than two hours and if the temperature is above 90°F, one hour is the limit.
7. Lastly, remember the CSCC’s of food safety
from the USDA: Clean foods and any other items that come into contact
with food before and after use, from hands to knives to cutting boards.
-Separate uncooked meat from everything else to avoid
cross-contamination, and don’t place cooked meat back onto the platter that
held it raw without washing.
-Cook meat, eggs and poultry thoroughly, using an
instant-read thermometer to check temperature.
-Chill leftovers promptly, as bacteria grows quickly at room
temperature.
With summer here, temperatures are on the rise and family
gatherings are more frequent, which means food for everyone! Stay safe this
summer with the tips above and by getting the world’s greatest personal protection
- Life Alert. Simply slip their emergency pendant around your neck or wrist and
in the event of a life threatening emergency, push the button on your pendant
and summon an emergency medical response fast. No matter if you encounter a
home invasion, a home fire or even a serious fall, Life Alert can send you the
proper authorities fast. Plus, with 24/7 service you never have to worry about
when you may run into a life threatening emergency. Trust your gut and get Life
Alert today! For a free Life Alert brochure call 1-800-513-2934.
Works Cited:
1.
Gold, Betty. “7 Simple Ways to Avoid Food
Poisoning.” Real Simple. 10
June 2019. <https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/food/food-safety
>.