"You can't see bacteria, they're everywhere, so keep it clean."
~USDA
Do you practice food safety? Do you wash your hands, before and after handling food? Do you know the proper cook temperature and time on your homemade meals? How about cross contamination of your foods? Do you ever wonder what the food handling protocols are for the meat packing plants are? How about the fruits and vegetables... how are they deemed safe?
Do you know what products are currently under recall?
Personally, I am terrified of catching food poisoning. I've had salmonella once in my lifetime, so I have NO interest in experiencing it again. Both hubby and I wear kitchen gloves when working with uncooked foods. We separate ingredients to lessen the chances of cross contamination. Like on the cooking shows, prepare your work space, and have all the components of the meals chopped and measured separately when indicated. I was all surfaces as I go, so clean up is easier. Do your research about cutting boards. And the temperature probe is your friend. Refrigerate as directed, and writing the recommended expiration dates on the containers is such a nice way to keep track. It sounds like a lot to do, but it's really not. Experiencing "exploding diarrhea" is a lot more time consuming, and not nearly as fun!
As with Covid-19, the Trump administration isn't going to be very helpful about letting us know the statistics. We have to educate ourselves. You can contact the FDA, or the Department of Agriculture, if you trust them, but you can also check with local health departments for information, and the CDC lists recent recalled items. But reading from different sources, and checking with your personal physician is great too. Look, just take care of yourselves. We are heading into autumn, children will be back in school, and different pathogens will be making the rounds again, so be prepared. Stock up on basic over the counter stuff now. Don't wait for Trump to make it all cost more!
I think it will be well into the autumn before I try eating a salad again. If you have a favorite restaurant, check with your county health department regarding their current safety rating. Have they ever received a warning? Have they been shut down? what you find might be surprising! I still can't bring myself to buy, Boar's Head, lunchmeat. If you haven't heard about that nightmare, click the link below. Ugh.
NBC News
Take care of yourselves.
Wired
Food Safety Charts at FoodSafety.gov
There are several PDF's you can download that details, Safe Food Handling, from the FDA.
