Food Temperature Safety

Knowing about safety in storing and preparing food is one of the best ways to avoid health "accidents." Just being aware of simple things such as how to best defrost, cook, and chill food can prevent a variety of foodborne illnesses.

Keep Your Food at the Appropriate Temperatures
(Tips for cooking, chilling, and defrosting foods to help prevent foodborne illness.)

Defrosting
Defrost food appropriately.
Defrost food in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave.
Food should be stored in a refrigerator that is 40°F or cooler or a freezer that is 0°F or cooler.

Cooking
Cook food thoroughly.
Thoroughly cook raw meat and poultry to destroy bacteria.
Ground beef and hamburgers should be cooked until they are no longer pink in the middle.
Using a thermometer to measure the internal temperature of meat can be used to ensure that it is cooked sufficiently to kill bacteria. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F.
Eggs should be cooked until the yolk is firm.
Use Proper Cooking Temperatures to Ensure Safe FoodThis printable chart gives cooking temperatures. The key to safe cooking is the proper internal temperature to kill the organisms that might make you sick. Use a thermometer to check temperature.
If you are served an undercooked hamburger or other ground beef product in a restaurant, send it back for further cooking.

Chilling
Chill food promptly.
According to both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, refrigeration at 40° F or below is one of the most effective ways to reduce risk of foodborne illness.
Microorganisms grow more rapidly at warmer temperatures, and research shows that keeping a constantrefrigerator temperature of 40° F or below helps slow growth of these harmful microbes.
Always refrigerate or freeze meat, poultry, eggs, and other perishables as soon as you get them home from the store. Never let raw meat, poultry, eggs, cooked food, or cut fresh fruits and vegetables sit at room temperature more than two hours before putting them in the refrigerator or freezer. Reduce that to one hour when the temperature is above 90° F.
Use a refrigerator thermometer to be sure the temperature is consistently 40° F or below.
Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared foods and leftovers within two hours of purchase or use. Always marinate foods in the refrigerator.
Never defrost food at room temperature. Thaw food in the refrigerator. If you will cook food immediately, for a quick thaw, defrost in the microwave or enclose the food in an airtight package and submerge it in cold water.
Separate large amounts of leftovers into shallow containers for quicker cooling in the refrigerator.
Do not overstuff the refrigerator.
Cold air must circulate to keep food safe.
Use or discard chilled foods as recommended.
Refrigerator and Freezer Storage Chart
As you approach 32° F, ice crystals can begin to form and lower the quality of foods such as raw fruits, vegetables and eggs. A refrigerator thermometer will help you determine whether you are too close to this temperature.

To find this information and to learn more about food safety, visit the Minnesota Department of Health's website at:

http://www.health.state.mn.us/foodsafety/cook/temperature.html

I recently received this email. It's been around a lot but I thought it was interesting to think about and good to be aware of- especially for all the women out there. It never hurts to be aware of tips like these.
1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do :

The elbow is the strongest point on your body.

If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans

If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse,

DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM.

Toss it away from you....

chances are that he is more interested

in your wallet and/or purse than you,

and he will go for the wallet/purse.

RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car,

kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole

and start waving like crazy.

The driver won't see you, but everybody else will.

This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars

after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit

(doing their check book, or making a list, etc.

DON'T DO THIS!)

The predator will be watching you, and this

is the perfect opportunity for him to get in

on the passenger side, put a gun to your head,

and tell you where to go.

AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR ,

LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.

If someone is in the car with a gun to your head

DO NOT DRIVE OFF,

repeat:

DO NOT DRIVE OFF!

Instead gun the engine

and speed into anything, wrecking the car.

Your Air Bag will save you.

If the person is in the back seat

they will get the worst of it .

As soon as the car crashes

bail out and run.

It is better than having them find your body

in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting

into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:

A.) Be aware:

look around you,

look into your car,

at the passenger side floor ,

and in the back seat

B.) If you are parked next to a big van,

enter your car from the passenger door.

Most serial killers attack their victims

by pulling them into their vans while the women

are attempting to get into their cars.

C.) Look at the car

parked on the driver's side of your vehicle,

and the passenger side.. If a male is sitting alone

in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back

into the mall, or work, and get a

guard/policeman to walk you back out.

IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator

instead of the stairs.

(Stairwells are horrible places to be alone

and the perfect crime spot.

This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun

and you are not under his control,

ALWAYS RUN!

The predator will only hit you (a running target)

4 in 100 times; And even then,

it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ..

RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!

8. As women, we are always trying

to be sympathetic:

STOP

It may get you raped, or killed.

Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking,

well educated man, who ALWAYS played

on the sympathies of unsuspecting women.

He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often

asked 'for help ' into his vehicle or with his vehicle,

which is when he abducted
his next victim.

9.. Another Safety Point:

Someone just told me that her friend heard

a crying baby on her porch the night before last,

and she called the police because it was late

and she thought it was weird. The police told her

'Whatever you do, DO NOT

open the door.'

The lady then said that it sounded like the baby

had crawled near a window, and she was worried

that it would crawl to the street and get run over.

The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way,

whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.'

He told her that they think a serial killer

has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax

women out of their homes thinking that someone

dropped off a baby He said they have not verified it,

but have had several calls by women saying that

they hear baby's cries outside their doors

when they're home alone at night.

Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door

for a crying baby ----

This e-mail should probably be taken seriously because

the Crying Baby theory was mentioned on

America 's Most Wanted this past Saturday when they profiled

the serial killer in Louisiana

These are just some of the many tips that are out there on safety for women especially.

Fire Safety

It is always important to learn about fire safety because it is one of those disasters that can happen almost anywhere- most often at home. Here are a few tips to help you and your families be prepared in the event of a fire:

- Make sure all family members know what to do in the event of a fire. Draw a floor plan with at least two ways of escaping every room. Make a drawing for each floor. Dimensions do not need to be correct. Make sure the plan shows important details: stairs, hallways and windows that can be used as fire escape routes.

- Test windows and doors—do they open easy enough? Are they wide enough. Or tall enough?

- Choose a safe meeting place outside the house.

- Practice alerting other members. It is a good idea to keep a bell and flashlight in each bedroom.

- Always sleep with the bedroom doors closed. This will keep deadly heat and smoke out of bedrooms, giving you additional time to escape.

-Find a way for everyone to sound a family alarm. Yelling, pounding on walls, whistles, etc. Practice yelling "FIRE!"

- In a fire, time is critical. Don't waste time getting dressed, don't search for pets or valuables. Just get out!

- Roll out of bed. Stay low. One breath of smoke or gases may be enough to kill.

This information can be found at: http://www.firesafetytips.com/

Center for Disease Control

I recently was on the Center of Disease Control and Prevention's website and found that they have a part of it dedicated to preparing people for emerging health threats. It's very interesting to look through all of the resources that they have. I learned a lot as I did so and hope that it will help me to be better prepared with regards to health. They speak of issues that are important to learn about wherever you might be living.

On the webpage it states: "Preparing people for emerging health threats is one of CDC's overarching goals. CDC contributes to national, state, and local efforts to prepare for and prevent public health disasters before they occur. When a disaster has occurred, CDC is prepared to respond and support national, state, and local partners in responding in order to improve public health outcomes. After response to a disaster has ended, CDC assists national, state, and local partners in the recovery and restoration of public health functions."

The website can be found at: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/cdc/

Check it out!

Ski Helmet Debate Following Death of Actress

Most of you have probably heard of the death of actress, Natasha Richardson. She was skiing on a beginner slope when she hit her head. Claiming that she felt just fine, the actress went on with her day. About an hour later, she complained of a bad headache and was taken to the hospital. She passed away shortly after.

The debate now is whether ski helmets should be mandatory or not. It has been proven that wearing ski helmets saves a significant percentage of those involved in skiing or snowboarding accidents. However, some are concerned that making helmets mandatory would make people take more risks, thinking that they'll be fine because of their helmet.

Wearing a helmet is a good way to prevent or be prepared for a potential emergency! Be safe! To read the full article, visit:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/142985.php

Why Be Prepared?

You never know when disaster will strike. Oftentimes there are no warning signs. Our only hope is to be as prepared as we can. A disaster doesn't even need to be something as big as a tornado or an earthquake. For example, it's a disaster when I run out of chocolate and have no way to get to the store! Okay, maybe that's exaggerating a little bit but you get my point. An emergency situation means thinking ahead and planning for a given situation. But, how do we prepare for every situation, you ask? Well, we don't. There's no way to possibly plan ahead for every single possibility out there. However, by having a basic knowledge of emergency preparedness, we can be prepared for the majority of situations.
Our survival needs are pretty simple: food, water, shelter, and heat. We could theoretically live our whole lives with these basic things. Besides these basic needs we have need to be prepared in case we are injured or sick with things like bandages and sanitizing solution.
I'm sure that everyone at numerous times in their life has run out of something that they use regularly. You miss it, right?! You wish you had stocked up, right?! That happens to me all the time. The truth is, it never hurts to be prepared with extra essentials. My mom once told me, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!"

Emergency preparedness is essential. Just take a look at what happens on The Office when everyone finds out how NOT prepared they are for an emergency!

Frequently Asked Questions

Many of the answers to these questions can be found on the LDS church website at http://providentliving.org/welcome/0,10803,1653-1,00.html


1. How do I start to prepare?
Start by adding a few storable items that you typically eat, storing some water that is safe to drink, and saving some money, if only a few coins each week. Then over time, expand these initial efforts—as individual circumstances allow and where permitted—by storing a longer-term (supply of basics such as grains, beans, and other staples. It is good to expand your supply until it is sufficient for three months)

2. How do you create a food storage on a budget?
It is not prudent to go to extremes or go into debt to establish your home storage all at once. Gradually build reserves over time as financial resources and space permit. One step at a time!

3. How should we prepare as a family?
It is encouraged to prepare a simple emergency plan. Items to consider may include:
- Three-month supply of food that is part of your normal daily
- Drinking water
- Financial reserves.
- Longer-term supply of basic food items.
- Medication and first aid supplies.
- Clothing and bedding.
- Important documents.
- Ways to communicate with family following a disaster.

4. Will my cell phone work in an emergency?
The mobile telephone is an effective tool for communication under normal circumstances. However, in a disaster, mobile telephone systems often fail due to overload, damage, and loss of power. Mobile telephone providers will restore service following a disaster, but it may take several hours, days, or weeks.

5. Are there any emergency preparedness resources online?
Some resources include:
www.ready.gov
www.fema.gov
www.redcross.org
www.osha.org
Safety and health checklist for organizations engaged in disaster response.

6. How much food do you need for an adequate food storage?
Anything is better than nothing but as you build your food storage, make a goal to work up to at least a three-month supply of food and water.

7. What kind of emergency contacts should be set up in the case of an emergency?
Wherever you are (home, work, school) it is helpful to have a place that has been designated as a meeting place in the case of an emergency. Depending on the type of emergency, phones either will or will not be available. In case they are, it would be good to have a couple phone numbers of close family and/or friends memorized.

8. How long do certain foods/water last?
- Food such as wheat, white rice, and beans can last 30 years or more when properly packaged and stored in a cool, dry place. A portion of these items may be rotated in your three-month supply.
- Most sources say that home-canned foods will store safely for at least one year. With other food items, the level of acid in the food is the critical element for determining how long it may store. Low-acid foods last longer on your shelves than foods with higher amounts of acid.
Some sources say that commercially-canned foods should last at least two years.
- For more information see:
http://preparedness.families.com/blog/how-long-will-your-canned-foods-last

- Water Storage Guidelines
- Commercially bottled water in PETE (or PET) plastic containers may be purchased. Follow the container’s “best if used by” dates as a rotation guideline. Avoid plastic containers that are not PETE plastic. If you choose to package water yourself, consider the following guidelines:
- Containers

• Use only food-grade containers. Smaller containers made of PETE plastic or heavier plastic buckets or drums work well.
• Clean, sanitize, and thoroughly rinse all containers prior to use. A sanitizing solution can be prepared by adding 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of liquid household chlorine bleach (5 to 6% sodium hypochlorite) to one quart (1 liter) of water. Only household bleach without thickeners, scents, or additives should be used.
• Do not use plastic milk jugs, because they do not seal well and tend to become brittle over time.
• Do not use containers previously used to store non-food products.
  

- Water pre-treatment

• Water from a chlorinated municipal water supply does not need further treatment when stored in clean, food-grade containers.
• Non-chlorinated water should be treated with bleach. Add 1/8 of a teaspoon (8 drops) of liquid household chlorine bleach (5 to 6% sodium hypochlorite) for every gallon (4 liters) of water. Only household bleach without thickeners, scents, or additives should be used.

- Storage

• Containers should be emptied and refilled regularly.
• Store water only where potential leakage would not damage your home or apartment.
• Protect stored water from light and heat. Some containers may also require protection from freezing.
• The taste of stored water can be improved by pouring it back and forth between two containers before use.

- Additional Information

www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/water
www.redcross.org/services/prepare

9. What things besides food and water should I include in my emergency storage?
In order to accurately gauge this, you could make a list of everything you buy at the store in the next couple of months (keep track of the things that you think would be essential to have an emergency supply of). Examples of other items include medications, first-aid supplies, clothing, bedding, blankets, important documents, dental essentials, feminine products, matches, flashlights, batteries, etc.

10. What about 72-hour kits?
It is encouraged to prepare for emergency situations by building a basic supply of food, water, money, and, over time, longer-term supply items.

11. Under what conditions should I store my food?
Storage life can be significantly impacted by the following conditions:

• Temperature: Store products at a temperature of 75°F/24°C or lower whenever possible. If storage temperatures are higher, rotate products as needed to maintain quality.
• Moisture: Keep storage areas dry. It is best to keep containers off of the floor to allow for air circulation.
• Light: Protect cooking oil and products stored in PETE bottles from light.
• Insects and rodents: Protect products stored in foil pouches and PETE bottles from rodent and insect damage.