Researched tips to help ensure the food you eat is safe for you

By Stevie Zouri

Is anyone else terrified of mould?

Okay, I can admit that I might be a little too terrified because realistically, my banana did not grow mould in two days of being refrigerated. 
I avoid cooking meat myself at all costs and then I get weird looks when I ask if restaurants can cook my meat well-well-well done, but it’s all in the name of food safety!

With the recent influx of food recalls, I think it’s better to be safe than sorry. Now, a medium-rare steak probably won’t hurt you, but maybe save the medium-rare chicken for… well — never.

What’s being recalled? And what are the risks?

For starters, and my personal favourite, from almond to oat, 15 different milk alternatives from Silk and Great Value are being recalled due to a risk of listeria. 

Listeria is a germ commonly found in nature. That means soil, rotting vegetation, and animal feces. Yikes. It can cause all kinds of symptoms that mimic a migraine or food poisoning, and if it gets severe enough, it can even cause sepsis or meningitis. As an oat milk lover, chronic worrier, and someone who wants to stay alive, this news definitely made me anxious. Don’t fret, all you need to do is watch out for the manufacturer Danone Canada and for best-before dates up to October 4th! At least our oat milk matcha lattes are safe.

Definitely be wary of Costco yogurts, as this is the second time within the last month their yogurt has been recalled. Now, this one has a low food-safety risk due to the harmful yeast not growing in low temperatures, but still something to consider during your next shopping trip. Watch out for the best-before dates of Oct. 18, Oct. 20 and Oct. 22!

The trendiest of them all on the recall list: Beet & Balsamic Cashew Dip from Spread’Em Kitchen Ltd. Cashew Dip was never my personal favourite, but now even more so with the risk of mould. 

Mould is well-known as a horrifying consequence of moisture, and is technically a mushroom. Long-term exposure can be devastating for your health, and in the short term, it can cause nausea, vomiting, headaches, fever, fatigue and abdominal pain. Gross. Watch out for best before dates of Oct.6 Oct. 27 and Nov. 10. Sad day for cashew dip lovers. 

Aside from the aforementioned cashew dip lovers, most of the people who enjoy these products will be happy to know that the health risks will be gone by late October. Nevertheless, it’s still important to be aware of risks to the safety of your food and know how to avoid them.

How to stay safe with my everyday food?

Generally, you’ll be fine as long as you follow basic FDA-approved food safety rules.

Wash your hands

Simple, effective and a classic. Wash your hands with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom, and before cooking or eating. Just washing your hands can help stop the spread of bacteria.

Cook food thoroughly

You don’t have to go well-well-well done like I do, but make sure you cook your meat until at least 165℉/74℃. This is the easiest way to eliminate bacteria, and probably way tastier to not eat raw meat! While you’re at it, make sure to keep raw food away from cooked food. Especially when it comes to meat, keep the raw food far, far away. Refrigerate once cooked food has cooled, this helps prevent bacteria growth at room temperature. Even when you’re shopping, make sure to keep anything raw in a separate bag.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Okay, I can store food and cook it, but how do I deal with a recall or outbreak? There’s no way to guarantee that there won’t be any more recalls, but we have some tips that can help you avoid picking up the wrong products directly from MyHealth Alberta.

Separate meat, dairy, eggs and seafood from everything else and each other. 

This applies to the shopping cart and your fridge!

Inspect the packaging

Checking the expiry date is crucial and you might want to double-check the ingredients. However, you should also check for any rips, tears or damage. Avoid anything leaking, dented, rusting or just plain old nasty.

Stay informed From Credible Sources

A tip from yours truly — reading articles like these and keeping up to date in the food safety world can save your life or just your stomach. You can find recall information on the Government of Canada website. For education about food safety and different certifications, check out the Canadian Institute of Food Safety!

There’s no need to be anxious about food safety. Even as a chronic worrier, I know these tips helped me feel just a little more confident about food safety, and I hope they’ll help you, too.