How can I help my customers know that foods like soft cheese such as brie, goat cheese or mozzarella can be refrigerated for 1-2 weeks and frozen for 6 months? Or that canned meat products will last five years in a pantry if unopened, but 3-4 days in the refrigerator after opening?
FMI developed, in cooperation with Cornell University and USDA, the Food Keeper database, which lists many foods and includes instructions for refrigerator and freezer storage, pantry and dry storage, and storage of foods that need special care. The database has some special features including:
- Easy Searching: Search for a specific food, browse by letter, browse by food category or search by food item.
- Food Safety Top-of-Mind: Food Keeper has food safety tips for shelf stable foods, bakery items, foods purchased refrigerated and foods purchased frozen.
- Fully Informed: Food Keeper has additional useful information like food product dating; handling fresh produce; how to best handle spices, extracts, condiments and sauces when cooking; tips on how to keep cooking surfaces and hands clean while preparing food; USDA-FDA recommended safe minimum internal temperatures; what to do with leftovers; and handling food safely during a power outage.
During food safety month, tell your customers about this resource. Share with your customers through a newsletter, blog or Tweet .The Food Keeper is available online at www.FMI.org/FoodKeeper and as a downloadable brochure.
Got a question? Ask the FMI Librarian: All questions submitted from FMI members will be answered, but not all will be answered via the Voice of Food Retail. Answers provided on the Voice of Food Retail will be in general terms without specific company names or information. Visit the Supermarket Facts page for answers to the most frequently asked industry questions.
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