Food Safety

Before enrolling in this course, my family and I practiced basic food safety procedures. For example, we used different cutting boards for meat and vegetables, as well as knives. We also washed our hands before and after touching raw meat, being careful not to touch the handles of the sink. My father is known for “burning” food, but it allows us to know that our meat is reaching proper temperatures safe enough for consuming. My mother, was the first one to point out that we needed to plan out meals, so that way we can take out the meat so that it can defrost slowly rather than quickly like my father often does. My mother and I are more conscientious of food safety precautions compared to my dad. We often have to correct him and monitor him while he cooks, just to make sure he’s not being careless. I believe that we were cautious before I enrolled in this course because my mother watched news networks that covered stories about be cautious in the kitchen. I all so watch the food network obsessively as a child so part of me was just emulating what I witnessed on television. After learning about food safety protocols, I have definitely become hyper aware of everything that happens in our kitchen. I have noticed that I correct my dad a lot about the things that he does that aren’t exactly safe. For instance, when I went home for Fall break my dad cooked all this food because I couldn’t tell him what I wanted to eat, so he cooked like three meats and five side dishes. While he was preparing the meat, he placed the pork chops in the frying pan then touched a cabinet door with that same hand. I think I shocked him when I yelled, “Dad are you trying to give us Trichinella, if anyone starts having intestinal problems we should go to the doctor immediately because that’s a symptom.” Then I proceeded to grab Clorox wipes and wipe every surface I witnessed my dad touch and warned the he should be more careful. I believe in the future I probably just continue keeping a watchful eye on my father while he’s in the kitchen. I think after I keep correcting him he’ll eventually get the hang of it by himself, but until they I just keep lecturing him about all the pathogens he could be spreading by not being cautious in the kitchen.

Picture: http://www.co.kewaunee.wi.gov/section.asp?linkid=2271&locid=194