Don’t die for food

In light of the recent U.S. Department of Agriculture recall of 1.8 million pounds of ground beef potentially tainted with E. coli from several grocery chains in the eastern half of the U.S., you might be wondering, “How can I tell if my beef is contaminated?” Well, you can’t. But, you can take a few safety precautions to protect yourself from foodborne illnesses:

• Thoroughly rinse raw produce.

• Keep raw foods separate from other food.

• Wash everything—hands, utensils, surfaces—with hot water and soap before preparing and eating food.

• Cook meats thoroughly: chicken (165 degrees); beef, pork, lamb (145 for steaks; 160 for ground).

• Promptly return perishable foods to fridge or freezer.

Source: www.mayoclinic.org