FAQs

Are there any risks of leaching chemicals onto food from plastic wrap or containers?
Are any plastic wraps or containers really “microwave safe”?
Food/Meat Thermometers—What You Need to Know
Quiz Yourself! Check Your Knowledge about Food Temperatures
What is the best way to clean fruits and vegetables?
What will global warming do to our food supply?
Why don't packaged foods tell us when the contents will expire after the container is opened?
Holiday Gift Ideas for Anyone Who Cooks--or Wants to
What People Wonder About Water

FAQs on Food Product Dating

What are expiration dates?
What should consumers know about food product dating?
Is information on food longevity and safety available by phone?
Who requires and regulates dating on foods?
Are stores required, by law, to remove outdated items from their shelves?
What do the terms "closed dating" and "open dating" mean?
Does the “use by” date matter once the product is frozen?
What if there is no date on a product, and I don’t remember if I bought it a month ago or ten years ago?
Who establishes these product dates?
Do most consumers actually pay attention to the dating on foods?
When Did You Buy It? When Did You Open It?
Do Food Product Dates Make Consumers Safer or Just Poorer?
Why do “best by” and “use by” dates sometimes seem conservative?
When to Throw Food Out? Not on the Use-By Date

FAQs about Definitions

Exactly what is meant by the phrase perishable food?
What do “sell by,” “best by/before,” “use by” and “expiration” mean?
What does the term "shelf life" mean?
What's in Our Food? Maybe Processing Aids, Maybe Not
Defining Some Current Language about Food
“Fresh,” “Natural,” “Processed”—What Do These Words Mean?
What Does the Word “Foodie” Mean? It Depends Who(m) You Ask

FAQs on Dropped Food

Is it true that, if I pick up dropped food within 5 seconds, it doesn’t have time to pick up germs?
If I Drop It, Can I Still Eat It?

FAQs on Cookware

Nonstick Cookware: Is it Dangerous?
What Features Should I Look for When Selecting Cookware?
Are Nonstick Coatings on Cookware a Health Risk?
What Should I Know about Selecting and Using Aluminum Cookware?
Is Stainless Steel Cookware a Good Choice?
Are Ceramic and Enamel Cookware Safe and Practical?
Does Using Aluminum Cookware Increase the Chances of Developing Alzheimer’s Disease?
Do Cast Iron, Glass, Copper, and Titanium Cookware Have Any Disadvantages?
Is the New Silicone Rubberized Cookware Safe?
What Brands of Cookware are Recommended by Experts?

FAQs on Plastic Products Used with Food

Why is so much of today’s food packaged in plastic?
Are we eating chemicals from plastics along with our food?
What is BPA?
Of the plastic products used to store, heat, or eat with (wraps, bags, containers, silverware, plates, etc.), which contain BPA?
Is there good evidence that BPA is harmful to human health?
Is it safe to wash and dry plastic plates, cups, containers, and utensils in the dishwasher?
Is it safe to use plastic wrap as a covering when microwaving food?
Are some plastic wraps safer and/or more effective than others?
Are plastic bags safe to use in the microwave?
Can I microwave food in my plastic containers?
Is it safe to heat frozen entrées in their plastic containers and with their plastic wrap?
Does the plastic used in water bottles pose a health risk?
Are there any health risks from reusing plastic water bottles by refilling them with tap water?
If I heat food in an open can, will that cause the plastic lining to leach chemicals into the food?
Pyrex® Glassware: Is it safe to use?

FAQs on Washing Produce: Why and How

If they look clean, why do fruits and vegetables need to be washed?

FAQs on Leftovers

Is it safe to reheat the same cooked leftovers more than once?
FAQs on Reheating Food: Pizza, Chicken, and Everything Else
FAQ about Pasta Sauce—How Long Dare I Keep the Open Jar?
Should Hot Food Go into the Fridge?
How long can I keep refrigerated leftovers?

FAQs on Food-borne Illness and Mishandling of Food

What does the phrase "food-borne illness" refer to?
About how many cases of food-borne illness occur in the U.S. each year?
What YOU Can Do to Avoid Food-borne Illness
New Study Reports Shocking Data on Food-Borne Illness
Your Grocery Card--Health Care Guardian or Spy?
FDA Announces a Recall of Foods with Tainted HVP — Will it be the biggest food recall in history?
Answer Key to “How Much Do You Know about Safe Handling of Food?”
How Much Do You Know about Safe Handling of Food?
Sudden, Awful Intestinal Distress--Is it the Flu or a Foodborne Illness--or Both?
I Left It Out Too Long! Can I Still Eat It?

FAQs on Food Safety

Must I banish sponges from my kitchen to avoid the risk of contamination?
Is It Time to Switch to Pasteurized Eggs?
Imported Foods—What’s Safe, What’s Risky?
How Long Should Cheese Be Aged? Will the Rules Be Changed?
Would You—Should You—Do You--Eat Irradiated Food?
FAQs about Mushrooms: Are they Very Dirty or Very Clean?
Is the Food Safety Modernization Act Making Our Food Supply Safer?
"Is It Safe To….?" FAQs Answered by our Advisory Board
More FAQs about Minimum Safe Cooking Temperatures: Pork and Other Perishables
Sushi: Why Such a Short Shelf Life?
FAQs about Soft Cheeses--What's Safe, What Isn't
FAQs on Raw Fruits and Veggies—the Answers Can Protect Your Wallet and Your Health
FAQs on Food Safety and Nutrition
FAQs about Ground Beef, Seasonings, Olive Oil, Lemon Wedges, and Fish
Is It Safe? Is It Nutritious? More Survey Answers from Scientists
Food Bars/Buffets in Supermarkets--Is the food safe? How can you tell?
FAQs on BPA: the attacks continue, but are they justified?
How risky is that burger you're biting into?
If GE salmon came to your supermarket, would you recognize it?
FAQs: Cutting Boards and Kitchen Counters--Selection and Care
How Long Will They REALLY Last? Part I: Non-perishables
How Long Will They REALLY last? Part II: Perishables
Winter Food Storage—Can I leave It in the Car or in the Garage?

FAQs on Organic Food

Will Organic Baby Food Make Your Baby Healthier?
Is Organically Grown Food Better for the Environment?
Are Organic Methods More Humane to Animals?
What Do the Various Organic Labels Mean?
Does Conventional Food Have a Longer Shelf Life Than Organic?
Does Organic Food Taste Better than Conventional Food?
Is Organic Food More Nutritious Than Conventional Food?
What Important Contributions Has the Organic Movement Made?
What Is Organic Food?
Which Are Safer: Organic or Conventional Food Products?

FAQs on Farmers' Markets | Shelf Life Advice

Exactly what defines a farmers’ market?
What should I bring to the farmers’ market?
What time of day is it best to go to a farmers’ market?
What signs indicate a sanitary farmers’ market?
How should I handle produce at home?
What Foods are Sold with Restrictions at a Farmers’ Market?
Farmers' Markets: Why They're So Popular; How to Find One Near Your Home
What shouldn’t I do or eat at a farmers’ market?

FAQs on Food Wrapping

What’s better for wrapping food—plastic or aluminum foil?
What produce needs to be wrapped before refrigerating?
Should I wrap raw vegetables loosely or tightly before refrigerating?
How should fruits be wrapped before refrigeration?
Can I refrigerate meat and poultry in its store wrapping?
Can chemicals leach unto food from plastic wrap or containers?
Are some plastic wraps more effective than others?
Are any plastic wraps or containers really “microwave safe”?
Can I use plastic freezer bags to store produce in the fridge?
Do coated plastic bags really help produce last longer?
What are some advantages and disadvantages of aluminum foil?
Does exposure to aluminum cause Alzheimer’s disease?
Does aluminum foil give foods a metallic taste?
Why does foil sometimes darken, discolor, and leave black specks on food?
Will a foil cover help keep foods on the table hot or cold?
Is it safe to use aluminum foil in a microwave oven?
Everything You Need to Know about Wrapping Food Right

FAQs on Freezing Food

How should food be handled and wrapped for freezing?
To Freeze or Not to Freeze and Related Questions

Other FAQ's

Four FAQs about cold-brew coffee, ceramic pans, climate change, and kidney cancer
USDA Urges Consumers to Keep Clear of the Danger Zone This Summer
What will global warming do to our food supply?

FAQs on Bacteria

What are bacteria?
How many types of bacteria are there?
Can I avoid all contact with bacteria if I’m careful?
Why do some bacteria make people sick?
Why does refrigeration keep bacteria from multiplying?
Can I tell if a food is safe or unsafe to eat by the way it looks and smells?
How can I avoid getting sick from a bacterial illness?
What foods are likely to be contaminated by listeria?
How dangerous is listeria?
What foods can give a person botulism?
How dangerous is botulism?
What foods can give a person a staph infection?
How dangerous is a staph infection?
Are Soft Cheeses Dangerous?
How Many Bacteria Does It Take to Cause Illness?

FAQs on Mold

What is mold?
Are any molds harmless?
Why are some molds dangerous?
About how many different kinds of molds are there?
How can I avoid getting mold on my refrigerated food?
What other safety tips will help prevent mold from growing?
Does mold ever grow on nonperishable food?
What food groups are most susceptible to mold?
What kind of packaging protects foods from mold?
What kinds of illnesses can result from eating moldy food?
Is mold always visible?
Can I remove a moldy part from food and eat the rest?

FAQs on Preservatives

What are Preservatives?
What food groups commonly have preservatives in them?
What are some common preservatives used in food?
Will the label on the product tell me if it contains a preservative?
Are the preservatives in hot dogs and similar products health risks?
What preservatives are known to cause allergic reactions?
All things considered, is our food supply safer or less safe because of preservatives?
Why are preservatives added to food? (What do they do?)

FAQs on Oxidation: How It Affects Foods

What is oxidation, and how does it alter food products?
How should food products be wrapped to prevent oxidation and other problems?

Other FAQs

Can chicken soup really cure a cold?
Food Fraud: Are you paying for scallops and getting shark meat?
Is Chocolate Good For You?
Some Shelf Life Info, General and Specific (Spirits, Defrosted Veggies, Green Tea, and More)
Nine FAQs about Food Labels
Ten FAQs about the Prickly Pineapple
Scientists Answer Two FAQs about Egg Safety
FAQs about Shelf Life: Tortillas, Pancakes, Wine, and More
FAQs about Food Price Increases
What's on the Menu in Cuba?
Can Science and Technology Help You Save Food Dollars?
FAQs Answered By Our Board Scientists: on Chickens, Bananas, Old Salad Dressing, and More
What's New in Food? IFT Expo Offers Tasty Innovations
Is Cheese Addictive? Only If You Eat It
FAQs about Products We Use with Food
Missing Chickens: Where Have All the Small Ones Gone?
Syrup from a Tree or from a Lab--Which Should You Pour on Your Pancakes?
Should Sour Cream and Cottage Cheese Be Stored Upside Down?
Should you or your dishwasher do the first rinse?
What will you be dining on this year? Here are predictions from folks in the know
What’s in My Water? Answers to FAQs
 
 

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