Safe Food Handling Fact Sheet

Foodborne illnesses mean business, and you better be serious about it. Every year, the Food and Drug Administration reports that there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness. This data corresponds to 1 in 6 Americans affected each year and an estimated 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths.

1. CLEAN: Don’t let bacteria spread into your hands and kitchen!

• Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food.
• Also wash your hands after going to the bathroom, changing diapers and touching pets.
• Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils and counter tops with hot soapy water.
• Rinse under running tap water, fresh fruits and vegetables or scrub with a vegetable brush.
• Clean lids of canned goods before opening.

2. SEPARATE: Avoid cross-contamination

Separate raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs from ready-to-eat-foods.

• Separate the food mentioned above in your grocery shopping cart, grocery bags and in your refrigerator.
• Use different cutting boards per type of food.
• Do not at all place cooked food on a plate that earlier held raw food or eggs.
• Don’t use marinades again.

3. COOK: Know the right temperature.

Bacteria cannot survive when food reaches the right internal temperature during cooking.

• Use a cooking thermometer and be familiar with safe cooking temperatures here.
• Cook eggs until the yolk and white are done.
• Bring sauces, soups and gravy to a boil when reheating.

4. CHILL: Refrigerate foods quickly.

Remember that cold temperatures make it hard for bacteria to grow.

• Do not stuff your freezer or refrigerator to the brim. Let the cold air circulate.
• Refrigerate perishables within 2 hours from cooking or purchasing. If the temperature outside is higher than 90°F, refrigerate within an hour. Never thaw food at room temperature, such as on the counter top.
• Thaw food in the refrigerator, in cold running water or in the microwave
• Divide leftovers into smaller containers for quicker cooling in the refrigerator.
• Clean out your fridge regularly.

Brought to you by www.learn2serve.com

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National Poultry Day: Flashback to the Past Poultry Outbreaks

photo source: nbcnews.com

The United Stated Food and Drug Administration reports that the U.S. poultry industry is the world's largest producer and the second-largest exporter of poultry meat. Consumption of poultry meat is by far higher than beef or pork, but less than total red meat consumption.

The Center for Disease Control approximates that each year roughly 1 in 6 Americans gets sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases. Contaminated poultry products and including avian viruses, can affect hundreds or millions of people. To celebrate National Poultry Day, we’ve compiled a flashback to poultry outbreaks you would never want in your home or establishment.

SPANISH FLU

The influenza of 1918-1918 was actually a severe form of avian influenza. In a span of one year, it killed almost 100 million people. It is thought to have been one of the most deadly pandemics so far in human history. It spread even in the Pacific islands and the Artic.

ASIAN FLU 1956

The World Health organization reports that the Asian Flu in 1956-1958 caused fatalities of up to two million people. It is believed to have been caused by the reassortment between humans and ducks.
The virus was first discovered in Guizhou and spread to countries like Singapore, Hong Kong and the United States. A vaccine was developed in 1957 to contain the outbreak.

HONG KONG FLU

In 1968, a new influenza virus hit Asia. Originating in Hong Kong, the avian influenza virus killed an estimated 1 million people worldwide and infected 500,000 Hong Kong residents.

H7N9

The avian influenza virus H7N9 was first reported in China in March 2013. Exposure to infected poultry and contaminated environments were the most probable cause of the outbreak. Most patients have had severe respiratory illness, with about one-third resulting in death.

In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 132 human H7N9 infections, with 44 deaths. Closing live bird markets and the change in weather contributed to the decline of the virus. Studies indicate that avian influenza viruses, like seasonal influenza viruses, have a seasonal pattern: they circulate at higher levels in cold weather and at lower levels in warm weather.

Pilgrim’s Pride causes Listeria

On Oct. 12, 2002, Pilgrim’s pride recalled about 27.4 million pounds of sliced deli meat after deli products made at a Pilgrim’s Pride plant in Franconia, PA were the source of an outbreak of listeriosis that killed seven people, sickened 46 and caused three miscarriages. It was the largest recall at that time in the United States.

Foster Farms Salmonella Outbreak

524 people have been infected with Salmonella Heidelberg as of April 7, 2014. This is due to the consumption of Foster Farms brand chicken. 25 states including Puerto Rico have reported cases, 37% of have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.

Foodborne illnesses and virus can affect you and your company greatly. You can avoid this from happening by getting the knowledge you need by taking a food handler’s license and practicing foodborne disease prevention steps.

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Top 4 Fun Bartenders in Films

Do you want to become a bartender? All of us would probably say yes if we were offered a chance to become a bartender regardless of whether we have experience or not. It’s a fun job that allows you to meet a lot of people, not to mention get tips on top of your base salary. Of course, those were just the icing on the cake. You also get to learn how to mix drinks, and run a restaurant or bar business.

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Is It Important To Get A Food Handlers Certification?

If important, you mean, career-changing and yes, a requirement that cannot be overlooked, then you have answered the title question. The thing about food handler certification is that people think it’s a tedious requirement that one has to fulfill for the sake of employment, but the benefits of obtaining a food handlers certification go beyond the simple piece of paper that it seems it is. In fact, it’s more than just proof of your training completion; it’s proof of your competencies in food safety.

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Expert-Recommended Cocktails to Drink during Valentine’s Day

Do you have your date this February 14th? Valentine’s is just around the corner, with or without someone to spend it with is totally fine. You don’t need to get stressed out about it because a lot of singles are celebrating this day too. Being a bartender or an owner of a bar, they should know what kind of people they are catering especially for special holidays.

Most of the single people are going out with their other single friends and partying all night long. But before venturing out the 14th which celebrates both Valentine’s Day and Single Awareness Day, here are some bartender-approved cocktails you should try.

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Five Best Super Foods for Your Heart

February is known for Valentine’s Day. You’ll see different kinds of heart-colored elements around the city. Even radio stations are filling the airwaves with romantic songs. But did you ever take good care of your own heart? Loving goes both ways. That includes safeguarding your own body… especially your heart. So this month of hearts eat some of the following superfoods to make sure you heart is fit for the battle ahead. Keeping a healthy diet and proper exercise also is good for your heart. Make sure you have proper knowledge in food handling (getting a food handlers card will help) when preparing meals with these superfoods:

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Coffee vs. Beer: Which One is Better?

Have you ever thought about Googling whether coffee is better than beer or not, or vice versa? I, too, became interested when I came across an infographic about Coffee vs. Beer.

Like other office drones, I usually start my day at work by dropping by the vending machine and getting my brew before anything else. I usually go for white coffee, but I also opt for cappuccino or 3-in-1 coffee (but most of the time it's white coffee) depending on the mood. Coffee fuels my brain, and I think the same goes for most people.

I also happen to drink beer, although not as much as I used to. And I can knock down a bottle or two during my lunch break and still be able to go back to work. You could say just like coffee, it gets me going too and makes me productive. (It won’t be the case of course, if drink one too many bottles.)

Which really benefits you -- drinking beer or coffee? Let’s find out!

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