Updated 12/2020
When someone asks you what your favorite topic is to talk about, chances are, you probably don’t shout “food safety”! However, as we all prepare for the final food filled celebrations of the year, let me share some of my favorite reasons why this topic may just need to be the first thing that comes to mind when people ask you to talk about something awesome.
- Without it, you could die. Ok, you might get terrible stomach cramps and other nasty gastrointestinal symptoms and dehydration versus actual death, but it is a possibility.
- You could make everyone sick if you don’t respect it. Need a sure fire way to make sure no one ever comes to your parties again? Forget food safety and that’ll do the trick.
- It’s the first thing every kitchen should have on its list when looking to impress. Are you the first in line after the health department closes down a restaurant because it’s in violation? Probably not.
- It’s not the first thing everyone notices when it’s right, but it sure gets the spotlight when it goes wrong. Like many things, such as a crisp paint job, working plumbing, electricity, hot water….We take it for granted and don’t thank anyone for these things, but my oh my, there are some serious consequences when these things go awry. Food safety is like that, too.
- It makes things smell nicer and taste better when you have it. Ever get a whiff of food that has gone bad or has been overcooked to the point of being nonedible? Kind of dulls the excitement of eating, right? It also wastes food and all the resources that went into it, so that’s another good reason to invite food safety to all your meals and snacks. And grocery trips, and in the kitchen, and at the backyard bbq…
Feel confident in your food purchasing, storage, preparation, and enjoyment. Food safety has you covered in all of these areas. Get to know the details and you’ll see how much more fun food-related activities become when food safety is covered.
Kim Kirchherr 