Practice food safety at home

We have heard of food-borne illness outbreaks – such as E. coli and salmonella – in spinach, peanut butter, hot peppers, ground beef, pot pies, and cookie dough.
More often than not, our food in the United States is safe to eat, but here are some things you can do to guard yourself from food-borne illness.
Thoroughly wash all produce, even if it has been pre-washed. Don’t forget to wash produce that you will peel, such as bananas.  Some fruits and vegetables may need to be scrubbed on the outside before consuming, like melons.
Always follow cooking instructions. Convenience foods, such as frozen meals, appear to be pre-cooked, but may not be. Make sure to use to correct instructions for the particular wattage of microwave you are using (it’s usually printed on the back of the microwave).
Use a meat thermometer to insure that meat has been cooked to a proper temperature.  Ground beef should be cooked to at least 160 degrees F, chicken breast to 165 degrees F, and steaks, roasts, and fish to 145 degrees F.
Avoid cross-contamination in the kitchen. Use a bleach mixture to clean countertops and sinks after preparing raw meat or poultry. Wash towels and rags often in hot, soapy water.
Don’t eat raw cookie dough. Not only can the eggs contain salmonella, but as we saw a few years ago, the cookie dough could contain E. coli.
Put leftovers into the refrigerator within 2 hours. If you eat at a restaurant and will not be able to get the food into the refrigerator within 2 hours, throw it out or don’t take it with you.
Wash your hands before preparing food, wash surfaces after preparing food, and keep utensils and containers clean.
There is one good thing that has come from the food-borne illness outbreaks in the last few years.
Certain areas of the food industry have formed stricter regulations and more inspections, which helps bring safer foods to the consumer’s table. Some plants that were producing contaminated foods have been shut down. 
However, there is still room for improvement for the food industry to ensure safe food for consumers.
If you have questions or ideas for future articles, please contact Melissa Bess, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist with University of Missouri Extension. Call the Camden County Extension Center at 346-2644, stop by our office at 44 Roofener Street, Camdenton, or email Melissa at  bessmm@missouri.edu.