Food Safety – Do you know how to keep your family healthy?
UC Master Food Preserver Program
September 9, 2024 – By Michele Nowak-Sharkey, UC Master Food Preserver of Mariposa County - September is National Food Safety Education 
Month. This month is an opportunity to take an active role in preventing foodborne illness, also known as “food poisoning.” The Federal government estimates that there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness annually – that’s about 1 in 6 Americans each year. Each year, these illnesses result in an estimated 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. Following simple food safety tips can help lower your chance of getting sick.
The USDA offers many such tips on food safety. https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/food-safety-education-month .
The site has downloadable charts on Food Safe Shopping and Storage along with Safe Food Prep. https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/food-safety-your-kitchen
Here are a few to keep in mind:
- Remember these 4 steps to handle food safely.
- Wash
- Separate
- Cook
- Chill your food!
- The 2-Hour Rule
Throw out any perishable foods left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours unless you’re keeping it hot or cold.
- Wash hands and surfaces often
Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food and after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and handling pets.
Wash your cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and counter tops with hot soapy water after preparing each food item.
Consider using paper towels to clean up kitchen surfaces. If you use cloth towels, launder them often in the hot cycle.
Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under running tap water, including those with skins and rinds that are not eaten. Scrub firm produce with a clean produce brush.
With canned goods, remember to clean lids before opening.
Mariposa County is fortunate to have the UCCE Master Food Preserver program. This program trains individuals who want to develop skills to be a presenter of food preservation and food safety techniques in our community.
Topics taught beyond food safety include canning, culture-dairy, dehydrating, fermenting, freezing, freeze drying, and pickling.
A new training is starting in January 2025. It will be a hybrid program of online videos, reading and in-person labs. The program requires you to complete all classes and in-person labs along with quizzes, group projects and a final exam. Upon completion you become a program volunteer presenting workshops, events and webinars to the public.
The training cost is $175 which includes books, access to online learning platform and lab supplies.
Application deadline is Saturday, November 30, 2024.
To learn more, check out https://mfp.ucanr.edu. Call 209 966-2417 or email smace@ucanr.edu with questions and to get an application.
Become aware of how to keep your family healthy with food safety awareness and consider joining a passionate group of local food preservation enthusiasts!
Source: UC Cooperative Extension, Mariposa
