Food for Thought...literally.

Got this in today's Washington Post email alert and made me think...


How's your cold-storage knowledge? Results of home food-safety surveys published in the American Dietetic Association's ADA Times (winter 2009) indicate we could all use a refresher course:

Sixty-five percent of those surveyed* did not know the recommended temperature for their refrigerator (below 40 degrees F).

Only 1 percent of those surveyed* who said they had a thermometer built into their refrigerators actually did. Many participants thought the thermostat was a thermometer.

Thirty-four percent of those surveyed* had unsealed or uncovered containers of food in their refrigerators; 29 percent had moldy or spoiled foods; 98 percent had undated containers of leftovers; 42 percent had conditions in which cross-contamination of pathogens was possible.

The area of the fridge most likely to harbor pathogenic bacteria is the vegetable bin, followed by the bottom shelves and meat drawer.**

And now for something controversial:
Researchers concluded from results of both surveys that people who are the least likely to follow home food-safety recommendations have higher education, greater income and live alone.

So....maybe you can find some time during the long holiday weekend to empty out your fridge, clean all interior surfaces and remove the bins and shelves so you can wash and dry them. Consider it your patriotic duty: You'll be freeing your household of contaminants.

--Bonnie Benwick, deputy Food editor
* Door-to-door survey of 550 Americans in six states, including supervised refrigerator assessment ** A Web-based survey of 2,060 consumers in the United States (July 2007)

Re: Food for Thought...literally.

We have a thermometer that I put on the shelves of our fridge, just to keep track of the temp for these reasons. Relatively often, DW goes through the fridge and cleans out whatever shouldn't be in there anymore.

While we may not be perfect, I think we're definitely better about keeping the fridge "safe" than a lot of people. DW has lots of issues about food spoilage....

Re: Food for Thought...literally.

I have to say I'm terrible about food storage and have eaten things many a time that I probably shouldn't have. I bring lunch to work and leave it out at my desk until I eat it, I keep left overs out longer than the recommended times, etc.

To me, if it smells ok, it's ok to eat.
I know that's bad, but I've never gotten sick yet.... so knock on wood!

Re: Food for Thought...literally.

Re: Food for Thought...literally.

Message edited 7/1/2009 9:37:23 AM.

Re: Food for Thought...literally.