Food safety essential as a Father’s Day gift

When part of the country experiences power outages, hurricanes, or severe heat or cold, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service is always ready with food safety advice.

This year, FSIS has expanded to include gift suggestions for Father’s Day in the form of food safety supplies. It says Father’s Day is an opportunity to spotlight the loved ones who helped raise and care for us. A great way to show appreciation for these special figures is to donate food safety tools that protect the entire family from foodborne illness.

USDA has put together a gift guide of food safety essentials to make Father’s Day shopping easy:

1. Food thermometer
   • A kitchen essential that ensures all meat is cooked to a safe internal temperature that kills bacteria.
2. Fridge magnet display of safe minimum internal temperatures
3. Cooler, insulated bag or insulated lunch box
   • When combined with a cold source such as ice, frozen gel packs or frozen drinks, these keep perishables at a safe temperature below 40 degrees F when you’re on the go.
4. Multiple grilling supplies
   • With the popularity of grilling in the summer, separate utensils can be used to prevent cross-contamination of juices from raw meat and poultry with cooked foods.
5. Shallow food storage containers
   • Ensures that leftovers cool quickly and safely. Remember, leftovers can be safely stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
6. Hand soap
   • No kitchen is complete without soap for washing hands! Use soap and water to wash hands for 20 seconds.
7. Multiple cutting boards
   • Use one cutting board for raw meat and poultry and another for all other prepared foods to prevent harmful bacteria from spreading.
8. Device thermometer
   • Use in the refrigerator, freezer or even a cooler to ensure temperatures stay below 40 degrees F.
9. Apron
   • Prevents raw meat and poultry juice from splashing on clothes. Wash aprons and kitchen towels regularly on the hot program of the washing machine.

After stocking up on all your food safety essentials, FSIS suggests you enjoy a delicious meal with USDA-inspected meat and poultry products. FSIS inspectors ensure that meat, poultry and egg products are safe, wholesome and properly labeled. Look for the USDA quality mark on meat and poultry products in the supermarket and have a food-safe Father’s Day!

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