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<< back to the 2000 archive listing << Dairy, Food and Environmental Sanitation My Perspective, December 2000 Be an advocate for food safety A couple of weeks ago as I passed the dairy case in my local supermarket, I noticed that the store was selling pasteurized shell eggs. I didn’t buy them. Not because they cost more, which they did, but because I still had three eggs at home that were probably about five weeks old (obviously we don’t eat a lot of eggs in our household). But I got to thinking about it and decided that when I did need to buy eggs I would buy these. Not because I need the safety they provide — at my house eggs go into baked products, and safety isn’t an issue – but because of the principle. I also have thought about irradiated ground beef and decided that I would also buy it when it becomes available in my area, again, not because I want to ensure my hamburgers are safer (I’ve always preferred them cooked to the hockey puck stage), but again, on principle. I’ve changed some of my kitchen habits, too. I’m much more careful about not using the same utensils for raw or partially cooked meat and fully cooked product. I use a clean plate for cooked foods off the grill. I wipe up raw meat juices with a paper towel instead of the sponge. I have a thermometer in my refrigerator. And I keep handwashing soap next to the kitchen sink. And I wonder why such practices have come to me so late. I’ve worked in
food safety for over twenty years, but some of these practices have been implemented
in my household only in the last few years. Maybe I’ve finally decided
to "practice what I preach." And I put the question to you, the Members
of the International Association for Food Protection, do you promote safe food
handling practices in your homes and when you eat out? Turning to other issues — you should be receiving this in December. Hopefully by then the IAFP Foundation Fund will have reached its goal of $100,000 in 2000, but the way it looks now, there will be a shortfall. Please think about sending a contribution before the end of the year. I noted in my first column in September the many good things the Foundation does with the funds. In particular we want to grow the Foundation so it can continue to bring cutting-edge, cross-disciplinary speakers to our meeting. We would also like to enhance the international aspect of our program with the assistance of the Foundation Fund. Help your Association build for the future and enhance the programs we provide for you, our Members. Also going back to that first column, here’s a reminder that now is the
time to start putting together those nominations for our Association awards.
A description of the awards appears in this issue of Dairy, Food and Environmental
Sanitation and can be found on page 954 and 955. Remember, this year we have
a new one — |