COOPERATIVE KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY FACT SHEET

Information about the Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program 2020

Dr. Kristopher R. Grimes, Associate Professor and State Extension Specialist for Nutrition and Nutrition Education;

Dr. Avinash Topè, Associate Professor, Human Nutrition and Food Safety, Interim Chair, School of Family and Consumer Sciences

you need to stock your pantry or freezer with more foods, making food storage safety more of a concern. Also, if you are eating at home more often, it's likely that you will have more leftovers, and handling those safely should be a priority. For that reason, it's important to keep safe and healthy practices in mind when preparing or storing food. Let's look at a few recommendations.

Food safety is a concept that we always need to remember. Whether it's cooking chicken to the proper temperature, how we thaw out a turkey, or the way we cleanse raw meats, there are many ways for food to get exposed to harmful organisms that can lead to illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are roughly 48 million cases of foodborne illnesses every year in the United States. Of those 48 million, approximately 128,000 people are hospitalized and 3,000 die (www.cdc.gov). Some of the more common infections, such as Norovirus and Salmonella, can lead to nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain, but usually clear up on their own in a matter of few days. Some of the less common infections, such as E. Coli and Listeria, are more dangerous and can lead to hospitalization.

However, when a family or a community is facing some type of health crisis, such as a natural disaster or a health pandemic, sometimes our routines change. For instance, if you are quarantined at home, you likely are eating more home-cooked meals. In addition, you may feel as though you need to stock your pantry or freezer with more foods, making food storage safety more of a concern. Also, if you are eating at home more often, it's likely that you will have more leftovers, and handling those safely should be a priority. For that reason, it's important to keep safe and healthy practices in mind when preparing or storing food. Let's look at a few recommendations.

One of the primary ways that you can prevent foodborne illnesses is the manner in which you sanitize the work area, wash your hands and prepare the ingredients. Here are three important factors to keep in mind: