Know what to look for to keep you and your family safe.
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Food safety starts before yourgrocerieseven hit your shopping cart.
Shopping at asupermarketfollowing food safety protocol is essential to preparing and eatingsafe foodat home.
Photo:Olena Malik/Getty Images
The floors sparkle and there arent any foul odors.
This is indicative of a store meeting the food safety codes.
Heres how to tell whether or not your local grocery store is following basic food safety guidelines.
A clean entryway and empty grocery carts are good signs that cleanliness is a priority, James says.
An Unkempt Restroom
A dirty restroom at any food service establishment is a major red flag.
If this oft-used personal resource is being overlooked, what else has flown under the radar?
Produceshould be firm and crisp, James says.
It should not be discolored.
It may also have a sweet smell and is maintained in working refrigerators and coolers.
Tight seals on the freezer doors are essential tofrozen foodsafety.
In the freezer, items should feel frozen solid and not soft.
Loose doors also indicate temperature issues.
If theres any condensation on fridge or freezer items at the supermarket, skip them.
I look to ensure that the shelves are dust- and dirt-free.
This is a potential food safety issue.
Staff can give insight as to what days of the week the fresh produce deliveries occur, James says.
If the store is selling local produce, they can share which farms they procure the produce from.
Are folks wearing gloves when handling fresh foods?
Are hairnets worn while preparing food?
Visual cues are so important when assessing food safety.
