Following is a press release from the USDA. I include it here, not because it has anything to do with product recalls, but because it concerns a matter near and dear to my heart. Hurricane preparedness. Among other things, you absolutely must be careful of the food and water you consume in dire times like hurricane emergencies. And you must know how to keep your food in a way that it will remain wholesome for you to consume! It really would be better to eat no food than to make yourself ill from a food-bourne illness during the middle of a hurricane crisis!
For more on Emergency Preparedness, read my award winning article at Suite101:
Emergency Disaster Preparedness and Elder Care: Disaster Planning for Older Adults and Their Families | Suite101.com
|USDA Offers Food Safety Tips in Advance of Hurricane Irene|
|WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 24, 2011 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing recommendations for residents in states that might be affected by Hurricane Irene to minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses in the event of power outages, flooding, and other problems that could be associated with the storm. |
"Hurricanes not only pose dangers to people's physical safety, but the resulting power outages and other effects of hurricanes also can affect the safety of the food people may rely upon after hurricanes strike," said FSIS Administrator Al Almanza. "The American public should be aware of things they can do to protect the safety of their food before and after natural events."
Steps to follow to prepare for a possible weather emergency:
An FSIS Public Service Announcement (PSA), available in 30- and 60-second versions, illustrates practical food safety recommendations for handling and consuming foods stored in refrigerators and freezers during and after a power outage. Consumers are encouraged to view the PSA at: www.fsis.usda.gov/news/Food_Safety_PSA .
News organizations and power companies can obtain hard copy (Beta and DVD) versions of the PSA by contacting the Food Safety Education Staff in FSIS' Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education by calling (301) 344-4757.
FSIS's YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/user/USDAFoodSafety , provides a video in English and Spanish titled "Food Safety During Power Outages." The channel also includes the SignFSIS video in American Sign Language titled "Food Safety During a Power Outage." Food Safety at Home podcasts regarding food safety during severe weather, power outages, and flooding are available on the FSIS website in English and Spanish at www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Food_Safety_at_Home_Podcasts/index.asp .
Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at www.AskKaren.gov . "Ask Karen" live chat services are available Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. Podcasts and SignFSIS videos in American Sign Language featuring text-captioning are available online at www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/multimedia .
Follow FSIS on Twitter at twitter.com/usdafo
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
USDA Offers Food Safety Tips In Advance of Hurricane Irene
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