Food Safety

Smoked fish is prepared by cooking the meat in a smoker at a low temperature, which gives the fish a smoky flavor without drying it out. Although smoked fish is high in vitamins and nutrients,...

Salad bars are popular in many restaurants and even grocery stores. It affords consumers the opportunity to choose what they want in their salad and how much. Proper sanitation and safety...

Microwaving food in a plastic bowl can be a quick and easy way to reheat leftovers or cook simple meals. However, you should take special care in how the food is heated, especially meats. By...

When working in an environment that deals with food, it is of the utmost importance to adhere to proper sanitation techniques. Sanitizing kills harmful bacteria. Your most important tool when it...

It is mandatory that professional caterers take a course to obtain a license to cater food for public and private functions. Licensing requirements and certifications vary from state to state, and...

While television writers love to portray the "greasy spoon" restaurant, the reality is that food-borne illnesses thrive in an unclean environment. There's nothing funny about botulism or...

Handling food requires a host of precautionary measures to avoid contamination by harmful bacteria that can cause illness and even death. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there...

A sneeze guard is the shield placed over foods in restaurants, buffets and outdoor food booths, to protect food customers from viruses and bacteria spread by other food customers' sneezes and coughs.

Every year someone becomes sickened from eating undercooked turkey during the holiday season. The symptoms of food poisoning can not only ruin the holidays, but in some cases a case of food...

A freezer can postpone the expiration date of food, allowing you more leeway for when you decide to cook that roast. In order for the freezer to do its job, however, it must be kept at a safe...

Clostridium botulinum causes the human illness botulism, which results from a toxin produced by the bacteria. Fortunately, only around 110 cases are reported each year to the Centers for Disease...

Labeling the food in your fridge with dates helps prevent food spoilage and waste. Knowing when your food is safe to eat helps protect you from the dangers of mold and food-borne illnesses. Label...

Giardiasis is a highly contagious disease caused by a one-celled protozoan parasite (Giardia lamblia). The parasite lives in the intestinal tract of many animals, and humans can be infected by...

The toxin produced by the bacteria clostridium botulinum is one of the most highly toxic natural substances on the planet. Even a tiny amount in your food or absorbed through the skin, eyes or...

Food packaging consists of both the label that gives written information about a product and also the material that encases it. FDA requirements for food packaging labels serve to honestly inform...

Salmonella is a group of bacteria that was named for the American scientist that discovered them. Infection with salmonella bacteria can cause salmonellosis in humans resulting in severe diarrhea,...

Following restaurant safety procedures is important and a must to ensure the well-being and safety of patrons and employees. Safety procedures cover all aspects of the restaurant operation,...

Whether a bacteria or a virus causes your gastrointestinal infection, you caught it in one of four ways: from person to person, by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your mouth, by...

Disposable gloves are being used in kitchens as a measure to ensure safe handling of food items and eliminate food contamination and food-borne illnesses. By following a few simple guidelines you...

Food safety is a big issue. Foods need to be frozen properly in order to keep you and your family safe and healthy. Bacteria growth leading to food poisoning is always a concern when storing food....

Salmonella bacteria, transmitted through undercooked or raw food products, can create intestinal illness. Adherance to salmonella food safety regulations is essential to avoid risk of contamination.

Molds are tiny fungi that can live off of other plants or animals. These parasites can grow on our food making it inedible. Biologists warn against eating moldy food because ingestion of certain...

Monosodium Glutamate, better known as MSG, is a widely used food additive that has received a bad reputation. Menus for Chinese restaurants proudly state "No MSG" on their covers, but not many...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the safety of the food, drugs and other products to protect public health and safety.

If you are what you eat, then eating chemicals or things that do not belong in your body can make you sick. Many things that burn which should not be ingested release poisonous carbon dioxide and...

Each year, 1 in 4 Americans get sick from food poisoning, and in 2008, salmonella food poisoning from raw tomatoes spread to 16 states. According to Arleen Porcell, spokeswoman for the federal...

Salmonella is a bacterium that causes diseases in people. Common symptoms are diarrhea, fever and stomach pain that occur one to three days after a salmonella infection. Protecting yourself from...

Salmonella enterica, subspecies Serovar typhimurium, is often known as Salmonella typhimurium or S. typhimurium. The bacteria is responsible for deaths and illness, often spread through food and...

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is used as a flavor enhancer in many foods. MSG is safe to eat, but may have short-term side effects for some people.

Monosodium glutamate or MSG has long been in the news along with other additives containing excitotoxins. Voraciously studied, reports on MSG vary regarding the degree of health dangers it poses....

Botulism is a serious food-borne illness characterized by paralysis and death if untreated. It is caused by a toxin created by the clostridium botulinum bacteria. Four cases of botulism linked to...

OSHA regulations regarding sanitation can be found at OSAH.gov, under regulation 1910.141. These standards cover sanitation regarding restrooms, showers, employee eating areas and changing rooms,...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses the acronym GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) to categorize various impurities that are contained in nearly all foods. Everything we consume...

Hair net laws have been implemented by many states and industries to avoid the possible contamination of consumer food products by the workers that are handling them. Hair nets or hair covering is...

Handling food safely during the cooking process will help eliminate food-borne illness. Preparing foods under the right conditions and using the appropriate steps can save you and your friends and...

Most cases of food poisoning come from bacteria that survives in improperly cooked or prepared food. Symptoms can range from a mild discomfort to being violently ill. Anyone who has had a severe...

There are an estimated 76 million cases of food borne illnesses reported each year, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. While that fact may not be surprising, the fact...

Food poisoning is a common illness that generally produces mild symptoms that present themselves within the first 48 hours of contamination. It is a gastrointestinal disorder that is caused by...

Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is the sodium salt of the chemical glutamic acid. It is used to enhance the flavor of food. Monosodium glutamate is commonly found in commercially prepared...

Get an insider's look into the safety of the restaurants you visit. Learn how to find a public health department inspection, and what to be worried about. Get an insider's look at the kitchen...

Plastic food containers are lightweight, durable, often transparent and cheap. Although the Food and Drug Administration assures us that it carefully approves only materials that are "safe for...

Food additives and preservatives exist in nearly every processed food product, yet some people may wonder just how safe these additives are. Many preservatives have known adverse effects....

USDA is an acronym for the United States Department of Agriculture. Since its beginning in 1862, the USDA has undergone many changes, including adding services that fall in seven mission areas....

The bacteria, parasites and viruses that cause food-borne illnesses cannot be seen with the naked eye. Often, contaminated food does not look, smell or taste any different from non-contaminated...

Food preservatives are natural or synthetic substances added to prevent bacterial growth or chemical changes. These substances increase food's shelf life for storage. Methods of food preservation...

Bacterial contamination of food is concerning, for good reason. Although most cases of food poisoning resolve on their own, without lasting effects, some cases can be deadly. Bacteria contaminates...

Sodium metabisulfite is one of a group of preservatives known as sulfites. It is a food preservative, cosmetic and industrial bleaching agent, and an ingredient in the developing solution for film...

Food safety should be the primary concern when preparing food commercially. Preventing serious food borne illness by understanding and using safe food handling procedures is the main benefit of...

Food additives, including colorings, are in much of what you eat every day. With some things, it's no surprise. If you buy Twinkies, you're generally not expecting health food. What may be...

I can not overstate the importance of preparing food properly in the work place or at home. Cross-contamination is one of the worst offenders for causing food borne illnesses. It is so easy to...