FDA Offers Consumer Tips about Shopping at the Store on FoodSafety.gov

This week’s FoodSafety.gov blog provides consumers with seven tips for avoiding foodborne illnesses when buying food.

“Protecting your family against foodborne illnesses begins not at home but at the supermarket, grocery store or any other place where you buy food that you plan to store and serve,” Doriliz De Leon, a consumer safety officer in the Division of Enforcement in the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition’s Office of Compliance, tells consumers.

Consumers should:

1. Check for store cleanliness.
2. Separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood from other foods.
3. Inspect cans and jars for irregularities.
4. Inspect frozen food packaging for signs of damage or defrosting.
5. Add frozen foods and perishables last.
6. Choose fresh eggs carefully, eyeballing for cracks and cleanliness.
7. Be mindful of transport time and changing food temperatures.

Source: FDA Release News