Groceries

Here are some things to consider doing. Some items may not be applicable to you.

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Before using groceries:

• Check this FDA site for foods which might cause salmonella poisoning: Peanut Containing Product Recalls

Before shopping for groceries:

• Plan to return home right after buying groceries – so you can get cold foods (especially eggs) into the refrigerator or freezer
• Organize coupons
• Eat – shopping on an empty stomach usually causes you to buy more than you intended
• Make a list of items you need, organized by types of foods
• Take:
  • List
  • Coupons
  • Bags (reusable cloth, plastic and/or paper)
  • Ice chest/cooler with ice in it – to put perishable items in if the store is a long ways from your home and/or you are unexpectedly delayed

While shopping for groceries:

• Check the sell date on perishable items
• Look for cheaper items above and below eye level
• Don’t assume items are cheaper just because:
  • They’re a larger size
  • They’re displayed separately and/or differently
• Don’t use coupons unless you’re sure you’ll use the item

Dairy:

• Eggs buy pasteurized eggs – reduced risk of salmonella poisoning

Fish:

• Plan to eat within 3 days
• Ensure display ice is fresh
• Choose fish which is closest to the ice, e.g., on the bottom
• For whole fish, eyes should be clear
• Scales should be shiny and cling to skin
• Don’t buy fish which smells excessively fishy – probably not fresh
• Don’t buy fish which smells like ammonia

Fruit

See Produce

Meat:

• Ensure meat is well-wrapped
• Be wary of meat, especially poultry, which is marinated – sometimes markets marinate older meat to hide its oldness

Produce:

• Look for produce which hasn’t been waxed
• If bagged: weigh it to ensure it is close to the listed weight

Strawberries:

• Try to buy strawberries not too long before eating
• Don’t buy strawberries which aren’t ripe – they won’t ripen any more
• Buy strawberries with the green leaf cap in place

Watermelons:

• Check that the stem (pigtail) is in place – if the stem is gone, it’s probably overripe – if the stem is a dark color, it’s probably ripe – if the stem is green, it’s probably not ripe
• Thump it and listen for a solid sound
• Consider buying a seedless variety

After returning home:

Eggs:

• Put in refrigerator right away

Fruits:

Also in this section: Strawberries, Watermelons

• Don’t store citrus with lettuce, broccoli, etc. – they’ll cause the lettuce, etc. to wilt

Meat:

• Ground beef: If the inside of the beef is brown while the outside is pink, be aware that the store is probably wrapping fresh meat around older meat – consider taking it back to the store

Strawberries:

• Try to eat them soon after buying
• Don’t rinse them or remove the green leaf cap until right before you eat or serve them
• Keep in the refrigerator at 34-36 degrees F

Vegetables

See Produce

Watermelons:

• Don’t put in refrigerator
• Place in a cool, dark place

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