Possible connection between food safety and cheap prices

Date: 2008-03-07 
By Chantal Durand
www.mykawartha.com

How safe is our food? Is it worth the risk to look for bargains in grocery stores? 
According to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), many items gracing grocery shelves may be low priced, but how safe those products are is another matter entirely. 
With increasing frequency, cheaper imports are displacing items grown in Canada. Some countries lack food safety, environmental and labour standards, and this is a huge factor in terms of why this food is so cheap, says the OFA.
"Being conscious of the value of Ontario's high food safety standards is a positive step in understanding why locally produced food may cost more than imports," says Bette Jean Crews, vice president of the OFA.
Buying low-cost imported food could be supporting poor environmental practices that are done in other countries, says the OFA. 
The CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) inspects the imported foods from other countries. While this offers comfort and protection, we still need to be aware of the risks and safe food handling, states Jean Antoniak health inspector from Peterborough County-City Health Unit.
"A lot of foods come from areas that have been inspected, but we cannot take this for granted," she says.
The main risk in shopping for food is the expiration of the products. Best-before dates should always be checked before purchase, as it can save trouble later, Ms. Antoniak adds. 
Consumers should also be aware of foods in aisles they find in aisles should not be in that location. If a product is in an aisle that you know should be refrigerated, leave it. According to Ms Antoniak, food should be stored at four degrees Celsius or less in the fridge. When storing these items, keep raw food separate from other food. 
For example, she says do not stack a salad and raw chicken. The chicken may contaminate the salad, which is harmful. 
"Storage is important," she states. 
She also says there are other things shoppers can keep an eye out for while grocery shopping. One is packaging and she says if there are tears or cracks, this can easily result in infestation. You do not want a product that has a swollen lid, dents, or leaking.
There are many other things consumers can do to prevent risks, continues Ms. Antoniak. Some foods need to be rinsed with water before consumption, and your hands should always be given a good wash too, before handling any of these foods. As well as keeping food separate in the refrigerator, they should be kept separate in your cooking area also, to prevent contamination between different food items. Be sure that food is cooked properly. Ms. Antoniak says that temperature is vital, and using a proper thermometer plays into that role. You may think your food is cooked and ready to eat, but a thermometer can confirm this. It's better to be completely certain.
Many of the things consumers can do to protect themselves and others is all common sense and awareness. It's never a good idea to brush off a small detail when it comes to buying food, Ms. Antoniak concludes. If something seems wrong, ask about it, or leave it where you found it. It's not worth it to assume that the minor problem you noticed is no big deal, when it could lead to food poisoning or another means of harm to yourself or your family. Her last piece of advice?
"Call food safety. It's what we're here for."