Time again for our Website of the Week, when we showcase interesting and innovative online destinations.
We're lucky enough, here in the United States, to have some of the safest food in the world. But contamination sometimes happens at food processors and often consumers overlook basic food preparation safety guidelines. At our Website of the Week, FoodSafety.gov, experts provide the latest information about safety-related food recalls and tips for keeping your family safe, all presented in a user-friendly way.
"It was really designed so that people could find the information they need and they didn't have to know the 'secret code' in order to find it," says Jenny Backus, spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services, one of several government agencies that have pooled their expertise to bring us FoodSafety.gov. "If you went on the site right now you could find out what the latest food recall was, but you could also find out how long you should store eggs in a refrigerator."
It's a practical site that includes information on topics like shopping and food preparation – such as how to buy produce to reduce the risk of food poisoning, and safe cooking techniques – that's a subject they have podcasts on. And if you think something you've eaten has made you sick, they've got that covered, too, Backus says.
"People don't know what causes food poisoning, what is worth calling your doctor about, what to do if you're sick, what are the really big warning signs. And they can also find out some information to make them feel physically better."
There's also advice on keeping your food safe during times of emergency.
"And that is such an important thing as so many places around the world face natural disasters every day and you never know when something will happen," she said in a telephone interview, "and you want to have done everything you can to keep you and your family safe."
If you can't find the answer to your food safety problem, there is an 'ask the expert' feature, right on the homepage at FoodSafety.gov, or visit our site, VOANews.com, for the link to this and more than 250 other Websites of the Week.