The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s mission is to provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science and efficient management. USDA's virtual representative, "Ask Karen," is available at AskKaren.gov. Food safety coaches are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET on the "Ask Karen Chat" and by phone at the USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline, 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854). Recorded messages are available 24 hours a day.
Below is the text of a blog entry, "Setting the Record Straight on the Proposed Chicken Inspection Rule" by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Administrator Alfred Almanza. It was published April 13, 2012 by HuffingtonPost.com.You may not know it, but every day, 10,000 dedicated USDA employees worry about the safety of the meat, poultry, and egg products you and...
"Would you like a doggy bag to take home?" asks the waiter. "That would be great" says the diner. Nearly half of her dinner remains on the plate and will make a quick second meal for another day.But wait. Here's the same diner calling the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Meat and Poultry Hotline the following day. "I put a...
More than 15 million school-aged children are home alone after school. That means they'll be making their own afterschool snacks, without anyone supervising their creative concoctions. Will your kids be eating on their own during the week? If so, you might want to go over these guidelines with them--before they run straight to the refrigerator and snack mindlessly in front of...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing recommendations for residents in states that might be affected by Hurricane Irene to minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses in the event of power outages, flooding, and other problems that could be associated with the storm."Hurricanes not only pose dangers to people's physical safety, but the resulting...
Days are getting warmer, baseball season is in full swing, and Memorial Day is here -- all signs that the summer cookout season is nearly upon us. As you welcome summer at your Memorial Day weekend barbecue this year, USDA reminds you that safe grilling practices are the key to making your cookout a big hit with your guests."We want...
The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing recommendations for affected residents recovering from the devastating storm damage throughout the nation to minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses due to power outages, flooding, and other problems associated with the powerful storm systems that moved across the southern United States last week. "With hundreds of thousands without power, coupled with...
Spring has long been the time of year for annual spring cleaning projects around the home. When it comes to safe food handling, however, everything that comes in contact with food must be kept clean all year long -- including the refrigerator.You probably keep your refrigerator at home clean, but the office refrigerator may be a problem because it's typically...
If you've been shopping for ham recently, you may have found yourself bewildered by the many choices available: fresh, cured, cooked, spiral-cut, smoked, bone in, boneless, country. It's no wonder people have so many questions about cooking and storing ham! Here are some tips that will make it easier for you to prepare ham successfully - and safely.Types of HamSimply,...
Brisket is a popular meat for springtime celebrations. One reason that it's an excellent choice for entertaining is that it can be prepared in advance. In fact, you must prepare it in advance and cook it slowly to make it tender. Also, because it can be cooked ahead of time and it reheats well, brisket is a great cut of...
Those of us on the USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline can always tell when St. Patrick's Day approaches. Starting in early March, we begin to receive lots of questions about corned beef: How do you prepare it? How can you tell when it's safely cooked? How long can you store it?While a traditional dinner of corned beef and cabbage may...
Snow, sleet, ice, and wind can wreak havoc on our every day lives. Winter! It's a fact of modern life: sometimes the power goes out.If your power goes out, knowing how to keep food safe can help minimize the loss of food and reduce the risk of foodborne illness.I have put together some helpful power outage guidelines from USDA's Meat...
For most of the year, my slow cooker stays on the shelf in my kitchen. But, when the Super Bowl approaches, I always pull it out to make chili, meatballs, or other hot party foods. The thing that I love about a slow cooker is that it can cook food safely and help me save time while I'm busy preparing...
Copyright © Marler Clark
U.S. Department of Agriculture
