Safe Food Preparation

There are many ways food can be prepared. How safely food is handled during preparation can make or break a tasty meal. Keep these tips in mind.

The Problem with Raw Flour

flour Do you find it hard to resist gobbling up a piece of raw dough when making cookies, or letting your children scrape the bowl? Do your kids use raw dough to make ornaments or homemade "play" clay? Do you eat at family restaurants that give kids raw dough to play with while you're waiting for the food?

If your answer to any of those questions is yes, that could be a problem. Eating raw dough or batter—whether it's for bread, cookies, pizza or tortillas—could make you, and your kids, sick.

K-State researchers seeking ways to protect flour - K-State Research & Extension
Say No to Raw Dough! - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Raw Dough's a Raw Deal and Could Make You Sick - Food and Drug Administration
Flour Safety Basics
Flour Food Safety Video - North American Millers Association
Baking Food Safety 101 - Home Baking Association
Homemade playdough - Iowa State University
The safety of raw oatmeal - University of Wisconsin

Quantity Food Preparation

Social functions are a great way to get family and friends together. Typically, at these functions, food is served to many people. Food safety is important to prevent family and friends from becoming ill. See the references below to prepare a safe meal.

Mail Order Food Safety

All of us enjoy receiving gifts in the mail. Food is a popular gift to give. Some foods, however, are safer than others to send in the mail. Refer to these tips to safely mail your next food package to those you love.