Keep Food Safe from Store to Storage: Shopping Food Safety Facts

Plan your trip around the grocery store, and make it the last stop before going home. Use a shopping list. Shop for nonperishable foods first, followed by frozen and refrigerated items such as meats, fish, eggs, dairy products and deli meats.

Avoid “cross-cart contamination.” Separate meat, fish and poultry products from other foods by placing them in plastic bags and in a separate part of your cart so juices won’t leak and cross-contaminate other foods.

Separate non-food items such as cleaning and hygiene supplies from food in your cart.

Buy food in good condition. Cold foods should be cold to the touch and frozen foods should be solidly frozen.

Grocery List

Shop for food last — get it home fast!

• Separate. Don’t cross-contaminate.
• Chill. Refrigerate promptly.
• Clean. Wash your hands before handling any food. Keep refrigerators and food preparation surfaces clean.

• Place the date on food packages when you buy them. Place the new purchases behind the old on the shelf and use the old first. Remember “FIFO” (FIRST IN FIRST OUT). Use the oldest dated packages first.
• Read labels to determine how foods should be stored. Foods stored for longer than recommended times or beyond the date on the package may change quality, color or flavor.
• Store canned goods in a cool, clean, dry place.
• Buy fresh looking packages. Dusty cans or torn labels can indicate old stock. Don’t buy canned goods with bulges, rust or sharp dents. Buy only what you can expect to use. Canned foods have a relatively long shelf life, but buy only what you expect to use within the product date.

• Take food straight home after grocery shopping.
• Use coolers or insulated bags if travel time from store to home will be longer than one hour. Put the groceries in the air-conditioned part of the car when it is hot outside.
• When you get home, immediately refrigerate or freeze perishable items.
• Check the temperature of your refrigerator and freezer before you put your groceries away. The refrigerator temperature should be 40 F or lower and the freezer should be 0 F or lower.

• Use foil, plastic wrap, plastic bags or airtight containers designed for food to package foods for refrigerator storage. Moisture- and vapor-proof materials are best.
• Store foods at cool refrigerator temperatures of 40 F or lower. Use a refrigerator thermometer to be certain.
• Keep freezer at 0 F or lower for best food quality, and don’t overstuff. Allow room for air to circulate.
• Store securely wrapped meat in the meat compartment or the coldest part of the refrigerator.
• Prevent cross-contamination. Place meat UNDER ready-to-eat foods such as produce.

Pay attention to the food product dates on the foods you want to buy in the store:

“Sell” or “pull” date is used on foods like milk and other dairy products, eggs and packaged meats. Grocery stores use these dates to decide how long to keep food products on the shelf. Products are still safe to eat three to seven days after the sell-by date.

“Best if used by” is a manufacturer’s date. The consumer should use the product by the date for best quality and flavor.

“Expiration” date is used on infant formulas, yeast, cake mixes and baking powder. The product should be discarded when past its expiration date. (Purchase the product with the most distant expiration date.)

Germs thrive at room temperature and can easily move from place to place.

Remember to clean, separate, cook and chill!

For more information on nutrition and food safety, visit the NDSU Extension website: www.ag.ndsu.edu/food