Tips & Info

Handling Dairy Products, Cheese and Eggs Safely

Dairy products are any kind of food that is made from milk including butter, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, and condensed milk. Dairy products, cheese and eggs can carry potentially dangerous bacteria. Fortunately, safe storage and handling are required to reduce the potential risks.

Dairy Products

Buy milk and other dairy products towards the end of the shopping trip.

Make sure dairy products are cold when selecting them.

Check the containers for any leaks or other damage.

Check 'best before' or 'exp date' on the product before purchasing it. The date shows the reasonable length of time to use at home.

Refrigerate purchased dairy products at recommended temperature at the packaging as soon as possible. If travelling longer than 30 minutes, place the product in a cooler with ice.

Store milk in the coldest part of the refrigerator and avoid storage on the door panels.

After using dairy products, close the containers tightly.

Do not leave dairy products at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

If possible, fresh milks should be consumed within 3 days to sustain the freshness.

Do not return used milk, cream or any other dairy products to their original containers.

Pour hot water directly into the infant bottle

Cheese

Refrigerate solid cheese in its original wrap until opened.

Hard cheese can last longer than soft cheeses.

Ricotta, cottage cheese and other soft cheeses should be thrown away when mold is visible.

Do not leave cheeses with high water content, such as ricotta or mozzarella, out of the refrigerator for longer than 2 hours.

Eggs

It is suggested to refrigerate eggs for longer usage. Do not keep the eggs out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours.

Make sure the eggs are clean and the shells are not cracked when purchasing the eggs.

Store eggs in their original carton and use them within 3 weeks for best quality.

References: 1. Handling Dairy Products, Cheese and Eggs Safely. (2015). Retrieved November 18, 2015, from Organic Food And Cafe : http://www.organicfoodsandcafe.com/page/handling-dairy-products-cheese-and-eggs-safely
2. Handling Dairy Products, Cheese And Eggs Safely. (2015). Retrieved November 18, 2015, from Whole food market: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/about-our-products/food-safety/handling-dairy-products-cheese-and-eggs-safely
3. Keep Your Dairy And Egg Products Safely. (2015, June 23). Retrieved November 20, 2015, from Eat Right: http://www.eatright.org/resource/homefoodsafety/safety-tips/food/keep-your-dairy-and-egg-products-safe
4. Playing It Safe With Eggs. (2011). Retrieved December 3, 2015, from Food Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/BuyStoreServeSafeFood/ucm077342.htm

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