Tuesday, May 4, 2010

HOW TO STORE FOOD SAFELY

Hi, I hope every is getting healthier every day.

The Usual Precautions

When most people read the title, they may think I'm mainly referring to keeping food at the correct temperature. It is true that the refrigerator should be at 40 degrees F, and the freezer should be kept at 0 degrees F, because it is important to keep food at the correct temperature to help prevent bacteria from growing.

It is also important to prevent cross contamination of foods, mainly keeping raw meat and fish away from all other food, and especially foods that will be eaten raw, like fruits. It is always best to keep meat and fish completely wrapped, and at the bottom of the refrigerator where it is coldest, and where their juices cannot drip down and contaminate any other foods.

You also don't want to keep cooked foods for more then a couple of days. Not only because of bacteria, but because mold spores build up as well, and in some cases can be more harmful then some bacteria. Mold spores can start forming quickly and you can't always see it, especially in the beginning. That is one reason that leftovers, while they can be very tasty and easy, are not always the healthiest. If you're looking for optimal health, it is best to eat food freshly prepared.

Plastic Food Containers Are Not Safe

There is some food, though, that you will need to store in the refrigerator, freezer or the pantry. One of the most important things when storing food is what you are storing it in. I know that many people like the convenience of storing food in plastic, but plastic is a chemical and it is best not to store any edible items in plastic.

Sometimes it is impossible to avoid foods in plastic altogether. I wish everything was stored and sold in glass, but that just isn't the reality. These plastic containers seem to be ubiquitous nowadays, so if you have to buy foods that come in plastic, you certainly don't have to store them in plastic. Use glass
or ceramic or some other inert substance, and never heat or cook any food in plastic, as in microwaving, makes the plastic even more unstable, and leaches even more toxins more into the food.

Plastic is a chemical, and it does leach toxins into the foods that are store in it, especially acidic, and fatty foods, and foods with a lot of liquids. Everyone is now aware of how the plastic water bottles leach chemicals into the water, and many have switched to stainless steel which is a safer choice.

BPA In Plastic Food Containers


When BPA (Bisphenol A) hit the news that is was not only in water bottles, but baby bottles too, people started to take notice. What a lot of people don't realize is that not only bottles and containers contain BPA, but the lining on many cans as well, which is another reason to avoid all canned foods.

BPA is a very serious problem, that has been with us for a long time.  Studies have shown it to cause damage to the neurological, endocrine, and reproductive systems.  Researches have also linked it to cardiovascular problems, cancer, obesity and diabetes.

If you still insist on using plastic, at least check the bottom for the number. Some numbers are safer then others, although, none are totally safe, in my opinion. You'll find the number in the triangle recycling symbol, and the safer numbers are supposed to be 1, 2, 4, and 5, and the worst are 3, 6 and 7, which should be avoided. That is what the so called experts are saying.

I do have to disagree and say that I don't believe, personally, that any of them are safe to use with food. I do buy yogurt, but I limit my plastic to that, and wish I could buy it in glass containers. Remember, and this is very important, these plastic containers have been used for YEARS, and none of these experts said they weren't safe. No one told us not to use them, until years later. We have no way of knowing the full extent of the damage this has caused. That is why I'm appealing to everyone to get the plastic out of the kitchen.

 Other Uses For Your Plastic Containers

You can still use your plastic containers in other rooms. I use mine for all sorts of catchalls; they are great for getting organized. So there is no reason to discard them to our landfills to leach toxins into the soil and water basin, just use them for nonfood items.

Good Health and Wealth,

Jeanne

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