Biosecurity and agroterrorism: Protecting against threats to crops & livestock audio replay July 20, 2005 hearing Free audio software download Homeland Security: Keeping America’s Food and Agriculture Safe

Avian Flu:Ag'sConnection
Top experts in animal and rare human flu cases lay out facts and plan for action.  REPLAY AUDIO
(runs 1 hr, 45 mins)  (free audio software) 
opening statements

 

Beef and Meat Safety
Committee reviews BSE cattle disease —
food safety, livestock marketing, and international trade.
USDA, FDA and veterinary experts testify

Practical information for safe food handling ... keeping foods safe during an emergency ... reporting suspected instances of food tampering.
16-page booklet for viewing or printing in English or Spanish
(free pdf text-reading software)

In An Emergency...
Even without power, refrigerators will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if the door is left unopened.
A full freezer will hold its temperature for 2 days (but only for one day if half full).
Food exposed to flood, fire or snowstorm requires special handling...

For more details on food safety subjects, consult these websites: Food borne illnesses placed in context - from the Partnership for Food Safety Education. Decoding product dating codes - from USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service. Recalls are voluntary, but there's a difference among products found to be contaminated, adulterated, or misbranded. Irradiation of food kills harmful microbes that would otherwise cause foodborne disease - the Centers for Disease Control explains.