Do you have questions about food safety? Email our Food Safety Specialist, Annie, or check out our list of FAQs and see if it hasn't been already answered. Annie is a Certified Food Safety manager with extensive knowledge in the following areas:

Cleaning and Sanitizing

Do rubber gloves cause dry skin?
Rubber gloves can cause dry skin, however, any gloves which trap heat and moisture beneath the surface can cause this problem.

How often should mop bucket and dishwasher water be changed?
Because most commercial cleaning agents must be in water temperatures of at least 75 degrees Fahreneheit to be effective, it is recommended that dishwasher water be changed every time that it goes below that temperature. Likewise with mop bucket water; if it reaches below 75 degrees Fahreneheit, it should be changed. However, if it is obvious that the water in either case is murky or very dirty before dipping to that temperature, it should be changed more frequently.

Foodborne Illnesses

After ingesting infected foods, how long does it take before symptoms of foodborne illness take effect?
Symptoms of foodborne illnesses can take anywhere from 1 hour to 3 weeks to develop depending on the type of foodborne illness.

What are the symptoms related to foodborne illness?
There are a variety of symptoms ranging from nausea, diarrhea, mild to severe cramping to vomiting.

Food-Handling

Isn't the only way to acquire foodborne illnes through food that hasn't been thoroughly cooked?
No; There are several ways to acquire foodborne illnesses. While one way is through not thoroughly cooked foods, other ways are through improperly thawed foods, improperly prepared foods (when cross-contamination occurs) and foods that are left in temperatures ranging from 40 degrees to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 4 hours.

What is the proper order of food items on a rack in a walk-in refrigerator? (ie, meat, seafood, veggies, fruit, milk, etc)
It is always proper in a walk-in refrigerator to store anything with the most probability of dripping (i.e. raw meat with blood) near the bottom of the refrigerator. That way, if it is infected with harmful bacteria it is least likely to infect any other foods in the refrigerator. Liquids in properly sealed containers (such as milk and juice) are usually the safest to store on the top shelves. Anything else can be store in between

Are vinyl gloves style #81077 approved for food handling?
Yes, our gloves style #81077 are approved for food handling. They are used in many facets of the food handling industry including preparation and serving.

Heating and Cooling Foods

Can't I tell if a food is thoroughly cooked and ready to be eaten just by it's color and texture?
No. Sometimes just by looking at a food after it has been cooked makes it seem easy to tell whether or not it is finished cooking. However, it is not considered safe until the temperature has been measured by an internal thermometer and it is at the correct temperature. Depending on the type of dish, the internal temperature should range anywhere from 145 degrees Fahrenheit to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

How long can the average jar of spaghetti sauce, after being opened, remain safe, if refrigerated?
Once a jar of spa