- Author: Chris M. Webb
A little preparation can go a long way to minimize potential challenges. Take the time today to plan ahead by learning emergency food safety guidelines and tips. You might want to print or order the following information and add it to your emergency kits for future reference.
Learn how to keep fresh and frozen foods safe in power outages of 2 hours or less and how to plan in advance for rolling blackouts in UC ANR’s consumer fact sheet, Guidelines for Food Safety During Short-term Power Outages.
For power outages longer than 2 hours please see USDA’s Keeping Food Safe During and Emergency.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The Ventura County Cooperative Extension office receives many calls about home canning. As home and community garden production continues to increase, so to do these calls.
The National Center for Home Food Preservation is a wonderful resource for home canning and other food preservation methods. The center was established with funding from the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (CSREES-USDA). There is an incredible amount of current research-based information available. At the site you will find:
- How to can food safely at home
- Seasonal tips
- Videos, slide shows, and tutorials
- How to freeze, dry, ferment, pickle, cure & smoke
- Recipes and much more
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Eggs are a wonderful source of protein, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Eggs are amongst the most complete, yet least expensive protein foods.
Find out more about eggs from UC ANR’s Egg Basics for the Consumer: Packaging, Storage, and Nutritional information. This informative publication includes:
- Interesting egg facts
- How to best care for eggs when you bring them home
- Nutritional value of an egg
- What goes into the feed of today’s laying hen
- How long eggs can be stored safely
- The differences between cage-free eggs, free-range eggs and organic eggs
- And much more.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The UC Davis Center for Produce Safety (CPS) will be holding a Produce Research Symposium on Wednesday June 23, 2010 at the UC Davis Campus. The day-long event will emphasize practical implications of new research.
The results of 11 CPS-funded research projects will be presented by the scientists leading the research. On-the-ground implications of the research for producers, distributors, retailers and regulators will also be discussed.
The event will be grouped around three research priorities: survivability of E. coli, testing methods, and vectors (i.e., carriers or transfer agents).
To register or find out more click here.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Another COOL program from the USDA? Yes, indeed, but in more ways than one. This COOL stands for Country of Origin Labeling and the program is designed to help retailers, suppliers and consumers better understand the laws and responsibilities related to source labeling of many food products.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) division of the USDA is responsible for administration and enforcement of COOL. They have a great website which includes the following information:
- A Country of Origin Labeling overview
- YouTube clips and podcasts
- Guidance documents
- Training materials
- Laws, rules and policies
Direct complaints about labeling violations can be sent by email to cool@ams.usda.gov. Complaints must have store name, location and what was seen that is a concern violation.