Image: Silver Leaf Farms in Corrales, NM, greenhouse and butter lettuce.
Food safety has been top of mind with national food recalls happening more frequently. September is National Food Safety Education Month, and the NMFMA has gathered reminders on best practices to keep you and your family safe while prioritizing fresh, healthy foods. Best of all, if you’re concerned about current and future outbreaks, prioritizing a shorter food supply chain can be helpful. Food grown locally is handled by less people, travels shorter distances, and you know exactly where your food comes from. And, in New Mexico, programs like the New Mexico Grown Approved Supplier program are helping ensure local producers are following good food safety practices.Â
The federal government estimates that 1 in 6 Americans suffer from a foodborne illness every year. That adds up to about 48 million cases annually. The FDA supplies lots of information and resources on how to handle all types of food. To get started, test your food safety knowledge by taking this informative quiz. Â
The FDA recommends these four simple steps for food safety at home:Â
- WASH hands and surfaces frequently
- SEPARATE raw foods from other foods
- COOK to the right temperature
- CHILL foods promptly
For more information on National Food Safety Month and food safety in general, take a look at the resources linked below.Â
