Personal Injury Lawyers > Personal Injury Blog > Food Poisoning > FDA Food Safety Tips

Personal Injury Blog

FDA Food Safety Tips

More FDA food safety tips have been released. Every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 325,000 have to be hospitalized for food poisoning illnesses. Nationwide about 5,000 people die every year from food poisoning complications.  The Obama administration has made clear its intention to crack down harder on food safety issues. However, according to the Food and Drug Administration, consumers can do much to ensure that the foods they eat are safe.

The Food and Drug Administration has released a series of steps that consumers can take to protect their health and promote food safety. These are simple basic FDA food safety tips that you can take to ensure your health and the health of your loved ones.

California food poisoning lawyers often see that the biggest factor in food borne illnesses every year is lack of hygiene. When you purchase food from a retailer or eat at a restaurant, take a look around and form a first impression. Does the facility look clean to you? Are the people who are handling the foods following safe handling procedures? If the answer to these questions is no, buy your foods elsewhere.

Follow practices of separating and categorizing your foods right at the time of purchase.  Separate seafoods and raw meats from other foods that have to be cooked with the ready-to-eat foods in your market cart. After you get home, make sure that the food is  separated and stored properly. Avoid storing raw seafood or poultry with other foods in your refrigerator.

Inspect cans and jars carefully before buying food products. If a car is cracked or has a bulging lid, don’t buy it. A crack in a bottle can be minute, but can be allow food inside to be contaminated. A bulging lid can signify under processed or undercooked food stored inside the can. Avoid buying dented cans.

Take care before you buy frozen foods. Avoid buying frozen food packages that have been stored above the frost line in the freezer. Don’t buy packages that seem prone or ripped. Look for signs of frost or ice crystals inside the packaging. This could be a sign that the product is really old, or that it has been thawed and refrozen again.  Avoid buying such packages.

Poultry and eggs are linked to several food borne illnesses ever year, including salmonella poisoning. Choose eggs carefully. Make sure that they’re not cracked and look clean. Only buy refrigerated eggs. Follow all safe handling practices mentioned on the carton.

Store foods in the refrigerator as soon as you buy them. Typically, food safety experts suggest a two hour rule.  That is the maximum time that you should leave foods out in the open. That’s because dangerous bacteria can multiply at temperatures of between 40° and 140°F within two hours. During summer days, reduce that time to one hour. If you expect more than a one-hour drive to get home after shopping, store the foods in an ice chest in your car.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of food poisoning. Please visit our website at http://www.robertreeveslaw.com/. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us at contact@robertreeveslaw.com.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

---