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Be in the Know

Whether it is traces of an allergen or the risk of harmful bacteria, foods are recalled on a daily basis. What if the foods you serve are affected? Will you be aware of product recalls? Here are some sure-fire ways to stay alert and keep your food supply safe.

Sign up

Both Health Canada and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA have websites that trace product recalls. It’s important to sign up for both, since much of our food supply is imported from the US and abroad.

In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency oversees product recalls. To stay up-to-date, sign up to receive food recalls and allergy alerts in your email inbox.

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Enhanced Labelling Regulations for Food Allergens

With a recent rise in the awareness of food allergies and intolerances, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is introducing enhanced labelling regulations for food allergens. The new guidelines came into force on August 4, 2012. These regulations will help Canadians with food allergies and sensitivities make more informed choices about the foods they buy.…

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Storing of Ready-To-Eat Meats and Leftovers

Follow these simple steps to help create delicious and safe sandwiches for your patients, residents and customers.

The two-hour rule
Refrigerate prepared foods within two hours. Discard prepared foods that have been sitting at room temperature for longer than two hours.

  • Never freeze leftovers
  • Refrigerate leftovers in shallow containers and cover once cooled. Food cools faster in shallow containers
  • Never mix leftovers with fresh foods
  • Date leftovers with “prepared on” date to ensure freshness
  • Leftovers should be eaten within four days

Storage chart for ready-to-eat meats in refrigerators and freezers

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Controlling Listeria Monocytogenes in Food

In the food industry, the strategy to controlling Listeria monocytogenes is largely focused on risk mitigation driven by robust surveillance and sanitation programs. There are three key components to effectively controlling Listeria in a food processing environment: Extensive and frequent monitoring and sanitation since Listeria monocytogenes typically thrives in meat plants; The use of growth…

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News about Nitrites

Nitrates and nitrites are hot topics these days – and are largely misunderstood. It may come as a surprise to learn that both of these molecules are critically important for the human body. They get converted into nitric oxide, which is essential for normal metabolism as well as the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Nitric…

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10 Things That Everybody Should Know About Listeria

Listeria can live almost anywhere and is commonly found in soil, water and unprocessed foods such as dairy, meat, poultry and processed foods such as deli meats, hot dogs, cheese and ice cream. Listeria can also be spread with an infected product or surface, such as hands or kitchen counters during food preparation. Healthy children…