Desktop Dining: Survival Tips that Work Overtime
Be the boss of your brown bag with these simple food
safety tips from the American Dietetic Association:
- Get Hands-on Experience. Fewer
than half of all Americans say they always wash their
hands before eating lunch.* The rule of thumb: always
wash hands before, during and after handling food.
No time to wash with soap and water? Keep your desk
stocked with moist towelettes or hand sanitizer.
- Be Proactive. The average office
refrigerator is cleaned only once every six weeks – more
than enough time for its contents to spoil. Don’t
wait for the office clean-up crew…toss your
leftovers within three to five days.
- Watch the Clock. If you’ve
packed perishable food items such as meat and cheese
sandwiches, leftovers, salads or dairy foods for
lunch, don’t let more than two hours pass from
the time you make your lunch at home until you put
it in the office refrigerator
- Limit Lunchtime Lingering. If
you have lunchtime leftovers, refrigerate them promptly
below 40 degrees as soon as you’re finished
eating – don’t keep them at your desk
all day, where they may develop harmful bacteria.
- Review the Refrigerator. Not sure
what the temperature is in your office refrigerator?
Stick a thermometer in the refrigerator and check
to make sure it’s set below 40 degrees F. (Your
co-workers will thank you!)
- Micro(wave) Manage. If leftovers
are your “bag” when it comes to lunch,
be sure to re-heat them to the proper temperature
of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, thaw frozen foods
in the refrigerator or microwave, not on the countertop.
- Check Your Sources. Nearly three
out of five Americans who work in offices where food
is left out to share indulge in these social snacks
at least once a week.* If food is perishable, find
out how long it’s been sitting out before you
dig in. If it’s more than two hours, you may
want to take a pass.
- Follow through with Fast Food. Don’t
forget that the same food safety tips apply to carry-out
and fast food, which also can be susceptible to bacteria
if not handled properly.
*ADA survey conducted by Impulse Research, August 2003.
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