Is what you are eating safe for consumption?
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Did you know that last year headlines such as, "Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Sprouts in Five States" (USA TODAY), and " Germany Shuts School Over E. Coli Scare ", were just a few of the eye-catching titles that were everywhere warning the people about what we eat?
According to the CDC for 2011, "each year roughly 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) gets sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases."
How do you feel when you read reports and data with numbers like this? Do you worry about yourself and your family? Maybe even have fear over the food and nourishment you provide to your children?
Topics such as these should hit close to home for everyone because it affects us all.
I spend a great portion of my day making sure I stay current with the trending news on formula and food contains, in order to ensure I do my best to buy the right items to reduce the risk of my 4 month old son being exposed to food contamination.
So, with that said, for Epiphany Sunday I will tell you the 4 tips I have learned to help reduce food contamination in your home, as much as possible. Unless you grow your own veggies and livestock, there is little control you have over what is brought to the super market for purchase, but we can control what we bring in our home and how we handle it.
Tip 1: "Shop Wisely." When you go to the grocery store, it is good to have a planned route. If you are like me, you like to visit just about every section of the market especially if it is a super center that has electronics, toys, clothes and more. However, once you begin your shopping for food items, you should "shop for non-perishable food first", according to the Food Safety Information Council in Australia. Also, it is a wise idea to inspect your food, check the color, smell and expiration date. Lastly, make sure all frozen foods are sealed properly and do not have any holes that would allow for bacteria to enter.
Tip 2: "Keep It Clean." Hand washing is an important factor in protecting your family. "The public Health Agency of Canada states that "hands spread an estimated 80 percent of common infectious diseases like the common cold and flu." (pg. 5). " Next, it is vital the kitchen remains clean. In 2005, ABC Health, did an article that explained how the kitchen is the deadliest place in the home. Why? Well, the answer is simple more, bacteria exposure due to food handling. Other than using good cleansing agents to keep the kitchen clean, you can also rinse your food. Rinsing produce items helps clean away "contaminated unclean water, animals fecal matter, and other raw food items" (pg. 5).
For those interested in more information on the ABC News health report the link is http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Health/story?id=1214155&page=1.
Tip 3: "Prepare And Store Food Carefully." First, do not thaw meat at room temperatures. "Even though the center of the meat may still be frozen, the outer layer could be in the danger zone, between 40 and 140 degrees farenheit– temperatures at which bacteria multiply rapidly", according to the U.S Department of Agriculture. After the food is thawed let us do our best to make sure it is cooked thoroughly and served soon after preparation.
Tip 4: "Be Observant When Eating Out." It is a good idea to always check the grade of the restaurant that you choose to dine at. Also, make it a regular habit to check the glasses, plates, and silverware you are served while in restaurants. If the utensils do not look clean … then 9 times out of 10 they are not. Do not feel embarrassed to ask for another set utensils or plastic ware. Finally, we come to doggie bags …..we all love restaurant food so much that we want to take it home, but if you are not going to arrive home within two hours of your food being served to you, then just savor what you had and look forward to the next time.
I hope these tips will help you keep you and your family stay safe 
. I was surprised by how many of these tips I generally follow and by the big one that I did not, which was doggie bags. Until next Sunday, I hope my epiphany lead to yours!
Tell me how many of these tips do you follow.
Tips and quoted material with page numbers comes from the June 2012 Watchtower.
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