by Lisa Fillers

Created on: September 22, 2008

Food safety is of extreme importance to our health and those of our loved ones. More and more we hear of mass food contamination incidents and food recalls in the news. This is due through lack of use of proper hygeine by employees on farms, in butcher shops, packing houses, restaurants, and grocery chains and failure of these facilities to adhere to strict food and safety laws of the FDA. In a haste to meet deadlines and get the foods to market in order to reap larger profits these rules are often overlooked. There are, too, always those employees who rather than report something to their superiors when they have made an error will let it slide by in fear of losing their job.

Food poisoning can not only be a very unpleasant experience but a costly one which leave us with long term organ damage and can be fatal as well.

As adults it is our responsibility to protect our children and those we serve food to from the carelessness and greed of others. Therefore, food safety should be a constant forethought while grocery shopping. There are a number of things you can do to protect your family.

AT THE GROCERY STORE:

PURCHASING MEATS - While sales are always welcome savings to the food budget, be wary of purchasing sale meats. If the price is too good to be true, there is often a reason for the sale. Most grocery stores will reduce prices on meats going out of the date of freshness in hopes of gaining quick sales to keep from losing profits. Check the packages carefully, turning them in the light. I have picked up packages in many stores and have seen faint streaks and sometimes large spots of green color in the meat under the plastic wrap. Sometimes this discoloration is not readily seen when making purchases in a hurry and without turning it a little in the lighting of the store. Be aware of any odd odor, a usual indication the meat is spoiling.

Check the packaging on all meat purchases for any puncture in the plastic wrap. A properly wrapped package of meat would be safer than one that has been exposed to air and germs. It is safer overall to find a store near you that has lower meat prices in general to that of their competitors and check those packages carefully than to purchase sale bin meats.

Check your grocery's deli out before purchasing prepared meats and other dishes. There are many which transport packages of cooked meats to heated stands at the front of the store or in front of the deli. Check the packages closely to try and determine how long it has sat there.

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