Food Safety in a Minute - WSU Extension

Transcript [Music] I’m Susie Craig, this is Food Safety in a Minute. Every time you preserve food at home, shop at a farmers’ market or farm stand, or enter a county fair or festival, you are judging or being judged. The National Center for Home Food Preservation offers a 110-page guide titled Judging Home Preserved Foods, linked in our podcast resources. It outlines goals and methods, judge selec...

Transcript [Music] From Washington State University Extension, this is Food Safety in a Minute. County fair season offers the perfect opportunity to showcase homemade jellies, but food safety remains a top priority. The National Center for Home Food Preservation recommends using tested recipes, proper processing methods, and clean jars to produce safe, high-quality jellies. Judges evaluate appeara...

Transcript [Music] I’m Susie Craig for Food Safety in a Minute from Washington State University Extension. It’s peach season in the Northwest. There are many ways to preserve peaches: Canning, freezing, spreads and condiments including salsa and pickled peaches. There’s something for everyone! Find research-based, tested, food safe recipes and directions by visiting the National Center for Home Fo...

Transcript [Music] Welcome to Food Safety in a Minute from Washington State University Extension. Did you know some home canners are experimenting with “dry canning” vegetables? This involves putting raw vegetables in canning jars with no added liquid followed by pressure canning. Some consumers are even adding butter or ghee. This practice is unsafe. Safe USDA pressure canning processes depend on...

Transcript [Music] This is Food Safety in a Minute, I’m Susie Craig. Can Splenda® be used in home food preservation? The answer depends on the product being preserved. Splenda® can be used to sweeten liquids for canned fruits, but unlike sugar, it does not provide preservative benefits or help maintain color and texture. In traditional preserves and pickled fruits that rely on high sugar levels fo...

Transcript [Music] This is Food Safety in a Minute. I’m Susie Craig. From Washington State University’s online Lunch and Learn Series, discover how to preserve food safely in a four-part series beginning June 8th. Sixty-minute classes are taught via Zoom and recorded for later viewing, making them ideal for busy schedules. Led by WSU Food Preservation instructor, Jennie Bryan-Goforth, you’ll learn...

Transcript [Music] Welcome to Food Safety in a Minute from Washington State University Extension. We're off this week, but we'll return soon. If you're not subscribed, please subscribe to Food Safety in a Minute to get each weekly episode delivered to you automatically. Thanks for listening. I'm Susie Craig. [Music]

Transcript [Music] Welcome to Food Safety in a Minute. In Washington State, we live in bear country. During the day, REI co-op recommends stashing all food in a closed cooler or hard sided vehicle—even for quick bathroom breaks—and whenever you leave camp for a hike. At night, place food and your cooler in a campground bear box when available. Some parks allow storing food in a car; in others it’s...

Transcript [Music] I’m Susie Craig from Washington State University Extension. Your gas grill will likely need a good cleaning before you cook out this summer. Start with a safety reset by using these guidelines to keep your family safe. • Clear away spiderwebs which may cause a flare-up. • Using a mixture of water and dish soap, spritz the gas line. Look for bubbling indicative of a leak. Repair....

Transcript [Music] From Washington State University Extension, this is Food Safety in a Minute. A food allergy happens when your immune system mistakes certain food proteins as threats and makes IgE antibodies; eating that food again can trigger a reaction. Reactions often start within minutes to two hours and can range from hives or stomach upset to life threatening anaphylaxis. In the United Sta...

Transcript [Music] From Washington State University Extension, this is Food Safety in a Minute. Planning a car camping trip this summer? Coolers are a key piece of outdoor equipment, keeping perishable food safe to eat. • Pack food cold, frozen if possible. To keep all your perishable foods safe, maintain temperatures of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below in your cooler. • You’ll need a supply of ice....

Transcript [Music] I’m Susie Craig from Washington State University Extension. In 2024, a peer reviewed research study of 72 dark chocolate and cocoa products showed 43% exceeded lead and 35% exceeded cadmium levels of California’s Proposition 65 limits. Read the entire study by linking to Resources for this episode, downloading a free pdf. It’s an interesting way to learn about food safety resear...

Transcript [Music] Welcome to Food Safety in a Minute. I’m Susie Craig. How sure are you that your chicken is truly done? An instant read thermometer is the only dependable way to verify food safety, because color and juices can mislead. It confirms meats hit the USDA’s safe minimum temperatures—like 165° Fahrenheit for poultry and 160° Fahrenheit for ground meats—reducing the risk of foodborne il...

Transcript [ Music ] Thanks for listening to Food Safety in a Minute. Autonomous farming is changing agriculture and helping protect food safety from farm to table. Today, sensors, robots, and AI track soil health, water quality, and crop conditions, cutting contamination risks before harvest. Digital and precision farming tools help growers ensure food safety. Real-time data strengthens traceabil...

Transcript [ Music ] This is Food Safety in a Minute, I’m Susie Craig. Pasteurized eggs are shell eggs gently heated to destroy pathogens while preserving their functional qualities in food. Pasteurization relies on precise time–temperature combinations, warming eggs to about 57°C for about an hour. This inactivates Salmonella without coagulating proteins or cooking the egg. Because egg proteins r...

Transcript [ Music ] This is Food Safety in Minute, I’m Susie Craig. Last year, Stampede Culinary Partners surveyed 6,400 U.S. consumers about restaurants, and trust. When dining out, 49% prioritize food quality and taste, and 22% choose establishments based on trust in food safety and cleanliness. At the same time, 57% say prices feel too high for the value received, 26% doubt food safety standar...

Transcript [ Music ] I’m Susie Craig from Washington State University Extension. Public trust in food safety remains fragile. News about outbreaks and foodborne illness investigations spread instantly to anyone with a smartphone. Yet, most consumers lack working knowledge of food safety regulations or management systems that protect food from farm to table. Stampede Culinary Partners surveyed 6,40...

Transcript [ Music ] Welcome to Food Safety in a Minute from Washington State University Extension. California has many dry, hot, sunny areas: Perfect to produce sun-dried tomatoes. After sliced tomatoes are placed on large wooden trays, they are often treated with sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide prevents spoilage caused by bacteria or fungi, prevents browning, and preserves the bright color of tom...

Transcript [ Music ] Welcome to Food Safety in a Minute. Enjoy adding sun-dried tomatoes to hummus or pasta? The next two weeks, we focus on the food safety behind commercial sun-dried tomatoes. Just picked tomatoes arrive by truck to a dry yard. They are washed, sorted, sliced in half, inspected, and placed in large wooden trays. The three by six-foot trays are made of Douglas fir or plywood. Usi...

Transcript [ Music ] From Washington State University Extension, welcome to Food Safety in a Minute. Did you know worldwide dried fruit production from 2023 to 2024 was estimated at 3.36 million metric tons. Next time you’re in a grocery or big box store, take a look at the variety of choices available to you. Drying is one of the earliest methods of food preservation. Drying removes enough water...

Transcript [ Music ] Welcome to Food Safety in a Minute. Established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization, this special Commission develops international food standards, guidelines, and codes of practice to protect consumer health while promoting fair practices in food trade. This past October the Codex Alimentarius Commission celebrated...

Transcript [ Music ] Welcome to Food Safety in a Minute, I’m Susie Craig. Chocolate and Valentines Day go hand in hand. With low water activity and high fat content, chocolate is considered a low-risk food. However, food processors follow Good Manufacturing Practices and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point systems to ensure food safety. This includes established parameters for the control o...

Transcript [ Music ] From Washington State University Extension, this is Food Safety in a Minute. Mid-February marks the start of Ramadan for Muslims around the world. The exact date depends on moon settings. Ramadan includes 30 days of fasting from dawn until sunset. After sunset, families look forward to home-cooked meals and community events with food. The USDA has recommendations for keeping y...

Transcript [ Music ] I’m Susie Craig from Washington State University Extension. Did you know that 90% of the members of the American Bakers Association plan to eliminate certified FD&C colors from their snack and bakery products by December 31, 2028? FD&C colors are synthetic, petroleum-based dyes currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Many companies are pledging to remove t...

Transcript: [Music] This is Food Safety in a Minute from Washington State University Extension. Are pad Thai, sushi, pasta, chicken curry, or a meatloaf dinner from a local eatery arriving this evening at your home for dinner? Here are six tips to prevent foodborne illness. • Check restaurant inspection scores from your health department. Food should always come from inspected restaurants. Using s...