Safety tips when shopping for grocery

Grocery shopping is a routine chore to many, however, preparing your shopping list is just one part of it. Health and safety should also play a pivotal role in your decisions. Choosing food carefully and avoiding cross-contamination due to improper storage and handling of foods should be at the top of your list. Here are a few tips to help you shop safely:

Be careful about where you shop

1. Choose stores with clean floors, shelves, and storage areas.
2. Packages should not be torn, opened, or damaged.

Use a safe shopping pattern

1. First, collect canned foods and dry, packaged foods such as pasta, bread, and rice.
2. Then, pick up fresh fruits and vegetables.
3. Finally, select frozen and refrigerated items such as meat, eggs, milk, and dairy foods.

Inspect foods and beverages before you buy them

1. Choose products that haven’t passed their “Sell by” or “Best used” by date.
2. Do not buy cans that have dents, holes, rust, bulges, or leaks.
3. Do not buy packages that have been damaged or opened.
4. Place meat, fish, chicken, and turkey in plastic bags before placing them in your cart. This prevents germs on the wrapping from spreading to other items.
5. Look for the word “pasteurized” on the labels of milk, cheese, and other dairy products (pasteurization is a process that helps kill germs.)

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