Call 4 Action
Buying food safely
MILWAUKEE - Are you planning to do some food shopping this weekend?
Before you head to the check out, you might want to take a few precautions to be sure that the food you are buying is safe to eat.
Many of us may take for granted that the food that we put into our shopping cart is safe to eat, and in most cases, it is.
However, although stores go to great lengths to store food safely, keep things clean, and rotate stock, there can be problems.
Before you head to the checkout, here are a few things that you can do to be sure that the food you are bringing home is safe to eat.
• Select your food carefully, making sure to check expiration dates, and avoiding products that are damaged or have packaging problems such as dents, tears, or bulging lids.
• Use caution when handling and loading perishable food like fresh produce, meat, and eggs. Keep these items separated in your cart to avoid cross contamination.
• Shop for non-persishable foods first, and load perishable items last.
Keep in mind, many of these foods should not be left unrefrigerated for more than a couple of hours, especially if the weather is warm.
If you notice a problem with a product or area of the store, speak up.
Let a manager or store employee know about the issue so that they can take corrective measures.
If you are unable to get results with store personnel, contact a regional or corporate office, or the local health department.
For more information about food safety, visit the websites for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection or the Food And Drug Administration.
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