Summer is the time of year we spend more time outdoors. This means that we will be eating outside more often. Unfortunately, the nice weather also brings along uninvited guests: bugs. No, I'm not talking about mosquitoes, ants, and gnats. I am talking about the bugs we can't see. Those bugs are called bacteria.

We hear the term "food-borne illness" quite often today. It may sound like a catch phrase, but it really is nothing new. A food-borne illness is an illness which originates from food that has been contaminated by organisms such as bacteria. (Salmonella is only one such type of bacteria). It can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms such as headache, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and vomiting. In very severe cases, it may lead to death. Symptoms can show up in minutes or hours after eating contaminated food.

While food can become contaminated anywhere in the process of production, consumers can take major steps to reduce the risk of food-borne illnesses. When buying groceries, don't buy cans that are dented or bulging. Pick up refrigerated and frozen foods last. Be sure that you wash your hands before handling food and that the work space is clean. Avoid cross contamination. (Two examples: if you are working with poultry, wash your hands before handling other foods to prevent the spread of salmonella. Also, sanitize the cutting board before using it to prepare other foods). Always cook meat, fish, and poultry completely. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Put away food as soon as possible after a meal.

Other tips include looking for expiration or "use by" dates on foods, rotating the canned goods in your pantry, and checking for sticky cans in your pantry which could indicate a leak. When buying eggs, open the carton and check for cracked eggs. If you are not sure whether to refrigerate a food product, check the label or call the toll free number on the label.

For more information, call the USDA Hot Line at 1-800-535-4555 and ask for the publication A Quick Consumer's Guide to Safe Food Handling. Or, visit their web site at www.usda.gov. The FDA also has a publication entitled Food Risk: Perception vs. Reality. Their web site is www.fda.gov or you can write to them at Food and Drug Administration, Office of Public Affairs, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.

Copyright© 1999-2004 Kevin Kelly, LRD. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.

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