Intro:
Welcome to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service “Food Safety At Home” podcast series, featuring topics for the safe handling, preparation and storage of meat, poultry and processed egg products.
Narrator:
I am Sandy King with the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Today we are going to listen to two friends learning food safety through “Pregúntele a Karen” and the Food Safety and Inspection Service’ En Español Web page.
Maria:
(
Ring, Ring) Hi Claudia! How are you? Listen, I need your help. My in laws are coming this week and I want to prepare a delicious dinner. I don’t want to disappoint anyone, especially my mother in law. I need to roast a big turkey by myself and that scares me a lot.
Claudia:
What a coincidence Maria. The other day I went to the supermarket and found two employees from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture distributing food safety information with the recommended internal temperatures to cook meat and poultry. They gave me a magnet and a brochure with four simple steps to follow when preparing and handling food at home: Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill. They also suggested that I visit USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service or FSIS Website for more details.
Maria:
Hum, I believe I’ve read something in the newspaper. Let me check…. (
SOUNDS OF PEOPLE PASSING NEWSPAPER PAGES) here…the newspaper says FSIS launched a new Spanish initiative that will make food safety information more accessible to consumers. Pregúntele a Karen (or
PregunteleaKaren.gov) is an automated response system, available 24/7, that contains information on the prevention of foodborne illness and the safe handling and preparation of food. This virtual representative also includes a feature that allows consumers to send questions via e-mails and live chats.
Claudia:
Yes, Spanish programs developed by FSIS to enhance food safety education among Hispanic consumers are more accessible now through the revamped FSIS’ En Espanol Web page. This site includes Spanish food safety fact sheets and publications, the Food Safety at Home Podcasts series, and messages from the Todo Cuenta Cuando se Trata de Cuidar a su Familia campaign.
Maria:
Claudia, can I come visit? I don’t have a computer... and I want to check out this site.
Claudia:
Of course! I’ll see you soon.
(
Ring of door bell… person at door)
Maria:
Hi Claudia, thank you for helping me.
Claudia:
No problem, I have a computer so we can access the pages and learn how to handle meat and poultry safely.
Maria:
Claudia… type
www.fsis.usda.gov , when you get there, click on En Espanol, and let’s see what we can find. (
Sound of typing on keyboard).
Claudia:
Wow! This Website offers valuable food safety information in Spanish in the form of fact sheets, recall releases, news releases, podcasts and videos, which mirror’s the FSIS main page.
Maria:
This is wonderful. Now Spanish-speaking consumers around the world will be able to ask questions and receive immediate food safety information using this program. They also have the option to chat live with a food safety specialist Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 4 pm Eastern Standard Time.
Claudia:
Okay, let’s try it. Type in a question to see what it says.
Maria:
Ok. I’m going to ask how to prepare a frozen 18 pound turkey. (
Sound of typing on keyboard)
Claudia:
Wow, they replied quickly. It recommends thawing a turkey that size for 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator. It says to cook it in an oven set to at least 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 to 4 hours. And to use a food thermometer to make sure the turkey reaches the safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This will kill any dangerous bacteria that could make us sick.
Maria:
Claudia, thank you so much! This is very convenient, if I have more questions I can also speak directly with a food safety specialist through the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline. That’s 1-888-674-6854.
Narrator:
Thank you for joining us for this episode of “Food Safety at Home.” And remember, “Be Food Safe.”
Outro:
Thanks for listening to this Food Safety At Home podcast. Let us know what you think of this podcast by sending your comments to
podcast@fsis.usda.gov.
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