LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,

LAREDO, TX– It is spring! and before celebrating special occasions like Easter, Passover and graduation, the City of Laredo Health Department is providing food safety tips to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

 While eggs are used all year ’round, they are especially important for many spring and summertime activities. They are used for cooking festive delights and for decorating and hiding just before the big Easter egg hunt.  Like meat, poultry, seafood and produce, eggs are perishable and need to be handled properly to prevent foodborne illness. Occasionally, eggs with clean, uncracked shells can be contaminated with bacteria, specifically Salmonella Enteritidis. Here’s what YOU can do to have a safe and egg-cellent spring!

 Clean Up,

Clean hands are key! Always wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after food handling.

 Beware of cross-contamination. Foodborne illness can occur when kitchen equipment is not thoroughly washed between uses. Always wash food contact surfaces and cooking equipment, including blenders, in hot water and soap.

  Cook and Keep Cool…

 Bacteria love to grow in moist, protein-rich foods.  Refrigeration slows bacterial growth, so it’s important to refrigerate eggs and egg-containing foods. Your refrigerator should be at 40 °F or below. Use a thermometer to monitor.

 Remember the 2-Hour Rule: Don’t leave perishables out at room temperature for more than two hours.

Whether you like your breakfast eggs scrambled or fried, always cook eggs until the yolks and whites are firm.Tasting is tempting, but licking a spoon or tasting raw cookie dough from a mixing bowl can be risky. Bacteria could be lurking in the raw eggs.

Cook cheesecakes, lasagna, baked pasta and egg dishes to an internal temperature of 160 ºF. Use a food thermometer.  Keep ice separated – ice for cooling and for consumption

 Keep all meats on ice if barbequing or in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook

  Cook all poultry at least at 165 degrees

All leftovers should be covered and stored in the refrigerator and use within 24 hours, freezing leftovers is another option.

Easter Egg Hunt Know-How

·         Only use eggs that have been refrigerated, and discard eggs that are cracked or dirty.

When cooking, place a single layer of eggs in a saucepan. Add water to at least one inch above the eggs. Cover the pan, bring the water to a boil, and carefully remove the pan from the heat. Let the eggs stand (18 minutes for extra large eggs, 15 minutes for large, 12 minutes for medium). Immediately run cold water over the eggs. When the eggs are cool enough to handle, place them in an uncovered container in the refrigerator where they can air-dry.

 When decorating, be sure to use food-grade dyes. It is safe to use commercial egg dyes, liquid food coloring, and fruit-drink powders. When handling eggs, be careful not to crack them. Otherwise, bacteria could enter the egg through the cracks in the shell.

 Keep hard-cooked Easter eggs chilled on a shelf inside the refrigerator, not in the refrigerator door.

 Hide the eggs in places that are protected from dirt, pets and other potential sources of bacteria.Remember that hard-boiled eggs are only safe to eat for one week after cooking.

If you have more questions or concerns about food safety, contact the City of Laredo Health Department environmental services division at 956-795-4904.