It is the time of year when there are fewer persons after Meeting for Worship and we focus on simple foods such as finger foods. Summertime is also a special time for caring for the foods we prepare. Of course we know about practicing food safety such as quickly refrigerating our foods after cooking foods such as meats, poultry, fish, dairy and eggs.

Leftovers need to be eaten within 3 to 4 days. Aside from loosing moisture and flavor there is the risk of food poisoning. The committees in charge of after-meeting snacks are charged with throwing out all perishable foods or sending it home rather than put in the refrigerator. With no exceptions, no little containers of leftover food should be refrigerated. Use the small plastic containers for transporting home.

Listeria: This “sneaky” germ is an unusual one because it grows at refrigerator temperatures where most foodborne bacteria do not. You cannot see it, smell it, or taste it. Only heat can kill it, but if heated food cools, Listeria may grow again! Reheat leftovers until steaming hot. Listeria can grow on some fruits and vegetables. Wash all fruits and vegetable with water. Scrub hard produce such as cucumbers and melons with a clean produce brush. Wash your hands with warm soapy water after you touch raw foods. Wash all knives or other foods used with hot soapy water before using them again. You can get sick from 2 to 30 days after eating tainted foods. It can spread from a sick expectant mother to the unborn child. See a doctor for symptoms such as fever and chills, headache, upset stomach or vomiting.

USDA recommendations

1. Keep the fridge set at 40 degrees or cooler.

2. Use precooked and ready-to-eat foods as soon as you can.

3. Do not eat refrigerated smoked SEAFOOD (“nova style”, “lox’, “smoked”) right from the package. It is safe to eat smoked seafood if it is cooked in its dish, like a casserole.

4. Do not eat raw (unpasteurized)milk or foods that contain raw milk.

5. Ready- to- eat foods (hot dogs, cold cuts. luncheon meats, deli-counter meats). Eat these only if they are reheated until steaming hot. Even cured meats such as salami must be reheated.