Tips for Food Safety

Thursday, October 20, 2011 · Posted in ,

Most often people contract a foodborne illness, commonly referred to as food poisoning, when eating food that was not cooked properly or left out too long. What some may not realize is that foodborne illness can also occur when eating food that has been left in the refrigerator too long.
Over time, bacteria, such as listeria, can grow on foods stored in the refrigerator. Listeria is known to cause listeriosis, a serious infection that effects individuals, like cancer patients, with a weakened immune system. Here are some helpful tips to avoid foodborne illness from foods stored in the refrigerator:


Refrigerator Safety
  • Set your refrigerator temperature below 40°F. This keeps harmful bacteria from growing. Storing food in a refrigerator with temperatures higher than 40° increases the likelihood of food borne illness.
  • Sort through the contents of your refrigerator at least once a week.
Safely Enjoying Leftovers
  • Refrigerate all leftovers promptly. Perishable leftovers should not stay out of refrigeration longer than two hours. In hot weather (90°F or above), this time is reduced to one hour.
FoodKeeps Up To
Cooked fresh vegetables3 to 4 days
Cooked pasta3 to 5 days
Cooked rice1 week
Deli meat5 days
Meat:
- Ham, cooked and sliced3 to 4 days
- Hot dogs, opened1 week
- Lunch meat, prepackaged, opened3 to 5 days
- Cooked beef, pork, poultry, fish and meat casseroles3 to 4 days
- Cooked patties and nuggets, gravy and broth1 to 2 days
Seafood, cooked2 days
Soups and stews3 to 4 days
Stuffing1 to 2 days
Information adapted from American Dietetic Association "Refrigerator Safety"Content provided by the Joan Karnell Cancer Center

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