Month / September 2017

by admin

September is ‪#‎National‬ ‪#‎Foodsafety‬ ‪#‎Education‬ month #NFSM. Today’s lesson: How foods become unsafe.

After yesterdays advanced food safety lesson, I decided to give everyone a break and provide you a more simpler lesson for today.
There have been identified five (5) of the most common risk factors that cause foodborne illnesses. They are:
1. Purchasing food from unsafe sources
2. Failing to cook food adequately
3. Holding food at incorrect temperatures
4. Using contaminated equipment
5. Poor Personal hygiene
Lets break each of these down on how they impact food safety.
1. Purchasing food from unsafe sources
Since food can become contaminated at any point within the food supply chain, it is important that food be purchased from approved reputable suppliers. An approved supplier is one that has been inspected and meets all applicable local, state, and federal laws.
2. Failing to cook food adequately
By not cooking foods to their required minimal internal temperatures, it is impossible to know if any contaminates have been destroyed in the cooking process. Back in 1993, this was the cause of the E.coli outbreak within the Jack-in-the-Box restaurants. The employees felt that cooking to the required temperature dried out the burgers too much, so they cooked to a lower temperature, which did not destroy the E.coli bacteria. This resulted in numerous illnesses and approximately 171 hospitalizations, and four children died. (more information available on this outbreak at:http://www.marlerclark.com/case_news/view/jack-in-the-box-e-coli-outbreak-western-states
3. Holding food at incorrect temperatures
This gets back to the conversation about the temperature danger zone. If you don’t hold the product above 135 degrees or below 41 degrees bacteria will grow and result in foodborne illnesses from the products.
4. Using contaminated equipment
Making sure that the equipment you use to prepare food is washed, rinsed, and sanitized before using it will help prevent cross contamination of equipment. Ensuring that you use a new/clean knife or cutting board for each item, will also reduce the chance of cross contamination.
5. Poor Personal hygiene
Ensuring that the employees follow proper hygiene procedures is very important in keeping food safe. This includes washing hands properly and at the proper times. Not coming to work sick, and ensuring that other personal hygiene requirements are followed.
If you have any questions about anything that I present in these lessons, or have a question about anything regarding food safety, please feel free to contact me.
Tomorrows lesson: Who are more at risk of getting foodborne illnesses?
by admin

New #foodsafety #recall #undeclared #milk #allergen in select Ri Wang Food Group Seafood Products

America New York Ri Wang Food Group Issues Allergy Alert on Seafood Products

September 22, 2017

Contact

Consumers

 1-718-628-8999

Announcement

View Product Photos
America New York Ri Wang Food Group Co. ltd is recalling the following products because an allergenic ingredient, milk, was not declared in labelling. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious of life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.
CFIA detection initially found this issue, and we are voluntarily recall the similar ingredients of other products.
Product was distributed in the following states NY, NJ, MA, RI, PA, MD, IL, and reached consumers via retail stores. The products were also distributed to food service providers.
The product is sold frozen. The recall includes all lot numbers of the following products.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.
FDA and the company continue their investigation as to the source of the problem.
Consumers who have purchased the above products are urged to return them to the Manufacturer for a refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-718-628-8999, Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm EST.
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by admin

September is ‪#‎National‬ ‪#‎Foodsafety‬ ‪#‎Education‬ month #NFSM. Today’s lesson: Understanding H.A.C.C.P. for food safety.

Todays lesson will be a little bit more advanced, but will help many of you understand the principles behind food safety and how to determine the best way to control the food to ensure that the food is being prepared safely.
H.A.C.C.P. (pronounced as Hassip), stands for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points, and is designed to allow the food service establishment to study the flow of food through the operation and determine where and how to make corrective actions to ensure that proper food safety procedures are being followed. H.A.C.C.P. was was originally designed when NASA asked the Pillsbury company to manufacture food for space flights.
A H.A.C.C.P. plan is designed around seven principles:
1. Conduct a hazard analysis
2. Determine critical control points (CCPs)
3. Establish critical limits
4. Establish monitoring procedures
5. Identify corrective actions
6. Verify that the system works
7. Establish procedures for record keeping and documentation
Lets take an example and run through these seven principles to better understand how they work.
Step 1. Conduct a hazard analysis
When looking at your menu items, look for how the items are processed within the facility. The most popular processes are: Preparing and serving without cooking (salads, cold sandwiches, etc), preparing and cooking for the same-day service (grilled chicken sandwiches, steaks, hamburgers, etc), and preparing, cooking, holding, cooling, reheating, and serving (chili, soups, some pasta dishes, etc). Next, it is important to determine which foods are considered Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) foods, and determine where food safety hazards are likely to appear for each food item, and determine what type of hazard could occur (physical, chemical, biological).
For example, At the Merou Grotto, I do my Dr. Ed’s Insane Chicken Sandwich, where I get the chicken delivered the same day as I will be cooking it. I have determined that bacteria (biological) is the most likely hazard that I would be dealing with.
Step 2. Determine critical control points (CCPs)
Now that we have the menu items separated by process and potential hazard, It is time to find the locations in the process where the hazards can be prevented, eliminated, or reduced to safe levels. Depending on the process involved with preparing a certain food item, there may be more than one CCP.
In my chicken sandwich example, I have identified that it must be handled safely throughout the process of removing excess fat and marinating; however, cooking is the only time in which bacteria would be “prevented, eliminated, or reduced to safe levels”, So cooking will be my CCP.
Step 3. Establish critical limits
For each CCP that is determined for each item, you must establish a minimum or maximum limit that must be met in order to “prevented, eliminate, or reduced to safe levels”.
In my example of the chicken sandwich, and as stated in one of the previous lessons, chicken needs to be cooked to a minimum 165 degrees F (74C) for 15 seconds. As this is the standard for food safety, I have adopted it as my critical limit for cooking my chicken sandwiches.
Step 4. Establish monitoring procedures
Once the critical limit has been established, you must then determine how that critical limit will be measured, when it will be measured, and how often it will be measured.
For my chicken sandwich, when I cook each chicken breast on the grill, I will check the internal temperature with a bimetallic stemmed thermometer (I would love a thermocouple or thermistor, but the Merou Grotto is a non-profit and they are rather pricey). I would insert the stem of the thermometer into the thickest part of the breast to determine the current temperature.
Step 5. Identify corrective actions
After you establish a monitoring procedure, you must then have a procedure in place that determines what you need to do if the critical limit is not met.
Again, as we discuss my insane chicken sandwiches, if the thermometer reveals that the breast is not above 165 degrees F, then I am to continue cooking the breast until it has reached the required temperature. A log is kept to notate this and all other corrective actions that are taken on the different food items.
Step 6. Verify that the system works
By using a temperature log to record that the critical limits are either being met or not, is how to determine if you are successfully “preventing, eliminating, or reducing to safe levels”, the possibility of foodborne contaminants.
These logs can help determine if, as with some suppliers, changes are being made to the products without your knowledge. An example of this would be a review of the temperature log and determining that more corrective actions are needed on certain days versus others. As with one company, it was found that on certain days they were receiving chicken breasts that were 6 ounces versus the standard 4 ounces that they normally received. This caused more corrective actions to be listed based on a thicker chicken breast.
Step 7. Establish procedures for record keeping and documentation
The entire H.A.C.C.P. plan works as long as you keep records of: monitoring activities, taking corrective actions, validating equipment to ensure proper working conditions), and working with suppliers (shelf life studies, invoices, specifications, etc).
At the Merou Grotto, I keep my temperature logs for three months and my invoices are electronic, so they are kept until I delete them (I used to keep paper copies for 60 days).
While the steps of the H.A.C.C.P. plan appears to be daunting, the procedures actually happen very quickly when you are working the system. Understanding where it is possible for food to become contaminated allows you to be better able to “prevent, eliminate, or reduce to safe levels” the possibility of causing a foodborne illness outbreaks.
If you have any questions about anything that I present in these lessons, or have a question about anything regarding food safety, please feel free to contact me.
Tomorrows lesson: How foods become unsafe.
by admin

September is ‪#‎National‬ ‪#‎Foodsafety‬ ‪#‎Education‬ month #NFSM. Today’s lesson: Choosing the right thermometer and how to ensure they are calibrated properly.

When choosing the right thermometer to check the temperature of your food, there are several different types to choose from, depending on how often you plan to use them, what temperature zone you are looking to check (hot or cold), whether you want internal temperature, air temperature, surface temperature, etc.

The basic type of thermometer, is the bimetallic stemmed thermometer. It has an indicator head, calibration nut, stem, and then a sensing area that would be just below a dimple in the stem. The standard scale for this type is from 0 degrees F (-18C) to 220 degrees F (104C). This allows for a wide range of temperature measures. To calibrate this thermometer, the easiest option is to place the thermometer in a glass of ice water. After at least 30 seconds, if the thermometer does not measure 32 degrees F (0C), then you just turn the calibration nut until it reads 32 degrees F.

Another type of thermometers are thermocouples and thermistors. These are generally described as digital thermometers that come in a wide range or styles and sizes. These thermometers can have interchangeable probes to check the temperatures through immersion, surface, penetration, and air. Because these thermometers are digital and have different probes that can be used, calibrations on this type usually needs to be done by a service company; however, some may have an internal reset button, and others may have a calibrate button that is pushed when you place the probe in ice water the same way you would calibrate a bimetallic stemmed thermometer.

Infrared (Laser) Thermometers are used to get accurate temperatures of food and equipment surfaces. Since the thermometer doesn’t need to come in contact with the food or equipment, it helps reduce the possibility of contamination. Calibration of this type of thermometer is completed by a service company.

Time-temperature indicators are single use items that help determine if a food item has entered the temperature danger zone and will register how long it has been in the danger zone. Food suppliers have attached these thermometers to food being shipped, in case there is an issue with delivery trucks. These time-temperature indicators change color and it provides an irreversible record of any incidents that may occur.

when it comes to taking the temperature of food, the following information should be taken into account:

1. Keep thermometers and their storage containers clean.
2. Calibrate thermometers regularly to ensure accuracy.
3. Never use a glass thermometer to monitor the temperature of food.
4. Measure internal temperatures of food by inserting the thermometer stem or prove into the thickest part of the product.
5. Wait for the thermometer reading to steady before recording the temperature of a food item.

If you have any questions about anything that I present in these lessons, or have a question about anything regarding food safety, please feel free to contact me.

Tomorrows lesson: Understanding H.A.C.C.P. for food safety.

by admin

September is ‪#‎National‬ ‪#‎Foodsafety‬ ‪#‎Education‬ month #NFSM. Today’s lesson: Proper personal hygiene practices for food safety.

When it comes to practicing proper personal hygiene for food safety, proper handwashing (which I discussed in a previous lesson), is only part of the program. A good personal hygiene program would also take into account: Maintaining personal cleanliness, wearing clean and appropriate uniforms and following dress codes, avoiding certain habits and actions, maintaining good health, and reporting illnesses.

Food handlers should keep their fingernails short, clean, and free from polish or false nails (as these could chip or fall into food being prepared). In addition, wounds and cuts should be covered with a bandage and then covered with either a finger cot (small finger only cover) or a glove.

When working with or around food, it is imperative that the food handler wear proper attire. This includes a clean hat or other hair restraint such as a hair net and clean clothing. The food handler, if wearing an apron, should remove and properly store the apron when leaving the food preparation area. All jewelry must be removed from the hands and arms when working with or around food, as the jewelry may contain microorganisms (a plain wedding band is the only exception to this). In addition to food safety, jewelry can also pose a safety hazard if worn while working with certain equipment in the kitchen.

Food handlers should not eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum or tobacco while working in or around food preparation areas. During these activities, it is possible for saliva to pass to the food handlers hands and directly to the food that the employee is working with. It must be pointed out that some health departments DO allow drinking in the food area, provided that the drink is covered and a straw is used. Doing taste tests of the foods being prepared requires the product be placed in a container for tasting, and then the utensil and container be removed from the area.

Foodhandlers must be encouraged to report health problems to the manager. There are several instances when a foodhandler must either be restricted from working with or around food or if they must be excluded from working within the facility. For instance:

1. If the foodhandler has a sore throat with fever:
          Restrict them from working with or around food, or
          Exclude them from the operation if you serve a high-risk population (elderly, pregnant women, children, immunocompromised)

2. If the foodhandler has one of the following: vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice:
          Exclude them from the operation, and before returning to work, the foodhandler with vomiting &/or diarrhea must either have been symptom free for at least 24 hours or have a written release from a medical practitioner. IF the foodhandler has jaundice, then the written release is required before they may return to the facility.

3. If the food handler has been diagnosed with an illness caused by one of the following pathogens: Salmonella Typhi, Shigella spp., Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, Hepatitis A, or Norovirus:
          Exclude the foodhandler from the operation and notify the local regulatory agency.
          The local regulatory agency and the foodhanders medical practitioner will decide when the foodhandler is able to go back to work.

Ultimately, it is the managements responsibility to ensure that proper personal hygiene is implemented and followed by all employees.

If you have any questions about anything that I present in these lessons, or have a question about anything regarding food safety, please feel free to contact me.

Tomorrows lesson: Choosing the right thermometer and how to ensure they are calibrated properly.

by admin

New #foodsafety #recall #undeclared #milk #allergen in Tasty Treats Nonpareils Milk Chocolate

First Source Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Milk In Tasty Treats Nonpareils Milk Chocolate

September 20, 2017

Contact

Consumers

 1-716-389-0264

Media

Joe Margarucci
 716-389-0264

Announcement

View Product Photos
First Source of Pico Rivera, CA, is recalling Tasty Treats Nonpareils Milk Chocolate because it contains undeclared milk.  People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to Milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.
The recalled item was distributed in the state of California through Bristol Farms retail stores.
The Product is sold in a 5oz size plastic pouch containing round chocolate discs with colorful sprinkles (nonpareils)  with a green paper label at top that states Tasty Treats, Nonpareils Milk Chocolate Bristol Farms with UPC 7 97299 00476 4 distributed between 12/20/2016 and 9/20/2017.
One illness/allergic reaction has been reported to date.
The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing Milk was distributed in packaging that contained the incorrect ingredient statement which did not reveal the presence of Milk. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company’s label review process.
Consumers who have purchased this item are urged to destroy the product.  Consumers with questions may contact First Source at 1-716-389-0264, Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm, EST.
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by admin

New #foodsafety #recall possible #botulism #contamination of Death Wish Coffee Co. Nitro Cold Brew Cans

Death Wish Coffee Co. Announces Recall of Nitro Cold Brew Cans From Retailers, Online Sales

September 19, 2017

Contact

Consumers

 recall@deathwishCoffee.com
 1-844-303-2290

Media

Joe Bonilla 
 pr@deathwishcoffee.com
joe@relentlessaware.com
 518-813-4905

Announcement

View Product Photos
Death Wish Coffee Co. (“Death Wish”), the Round Lake, N.Y.-based Coffee producer known for producing the ‘World’s Strongest Coffee’, has initiated a recall its 11-oz Death Wish Nitro Cold Brew cans.
Death Wish in conjunction with an outside Process Authority has determined that the current process could lead to the growth and production of the deadly toxin, botulin, in low acid foods commercialized in reduced oxygen packaging.
Botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Diffculty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distention and constipation may also be common symptoms. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.
“Our customers’ safety is of paramount importance and Death Wish Coffee is taking this significant, proactive step to ensure that the highest quality, safest, and of course, strongest Coffee products we produce are of industry-exceeding standards – thus we are taking this measure of recalling all Death Wish Nitro cans from shelves,” founder/owner of Death Wish Coffee Co., Mike Brown says. “We have also gone a step further, to make sure that everyone who purchased the product on deathwishcoffee.com will receive a full refund within 60 days. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause our customers and our retail partners, but we believe this is the right precautionary measure to take.”
Death Wish is halting production of Nitro Cold Brew until an additional step in the manufacturing process is implemented.
Death Wish Nitro cans have been removed from the company’s online store, in addition to it has been pulled from shelves at Price Chopper/Market 32, Healthy Living Market & Café, and independent retailers at the behest of Death Wish Coffee.
No illnesses have been reported to date. Consumers who have purchased Death Wish Nitro should not consume it and can either dispose of it or return the product to the location with proof of purchase for a full refund.
Additional company information can be found online at DeathWishCoffee.com/Recall, on Facebook (fb.com/DeathWishCoffee), on Twitter (@DeathWishCoffee), and on Instagram (@DeathWishCoffee).
For press inquires please contact pr@deathwishcoffee.com
For all other inquires please contact recall@deathwishCoffee.com or call toll free 1-844-303-2290 Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm EST.
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by admin

September is ‪#‎National‬ ‪#‎Foodsafety‬ ‪#‎Education‬ month #NFSM. Today’s lesson: Proper glove use in practicing food safety.

When I go to restaurants, I always look at what the employees are doing, especially if I can see the kitchen. For some places (fast food) it is easy, for others (sit down restaurants), it is a bit more difficult or impossible. I always wonder why restaurants don’t want their customers to see the food being prepared. Some may say it is because of trade secrets, others may say it is because they don’t want the employees to get nervous about people watching them. Personally, I think it may have more to do with possible health violations, but then, that may just be my expertise in food safety making me a bit paranoid on the subject.

I will admit that I go to fast food locations more than I should, being a chef and able to cook just about anything I want; however, sometimes I just want something quick and easy. I have begun to notice that a lot more of the fast food locations have started having their employees wear gloves when preparing the foods for service. In the case of food safety requirements, some locations require that the establishment either require gloves for handling foods that will not undergo any further cooking, or to have a strict handwashing schedule to ensure that the hands are continually cleaned. Seeing an employee that is wearing gloves, touch their face, hair, or dirty apron and then go immediately back to working with food, is not appropriate behavior weather the employees is wearing gloves or not.

For example, when I managed Burger King in Las Vegas, Nevada, we had a very specific requirement for handwashing, which allowed our employees to use bare hand contact with the food. We were required to have our employees wash their hands ever 30 minutes, and this was strictly adhered to at all locations. A timer would go off every 30 minutes as a reminder to wash your hands.

Those without strict handwashing procedures like ours were given the option to wear gloves when preparing food. If you have been to a Subway shop, you may have noticed, as I have, that the employees will wash their hands and then put on gloves to make sandwiches. Again, either way is allowable (check your location on the actual health codes regarding glove usage); however, you must use the gloves properly, otherwise it could be just as bad as not washing your hands. For today’s lesson, I will discuss the proper ways you use gloves to ensure that you are practicing proper food safety.

The main thing to remember when using gloves for food safety, is that they are NOT foolproof, and gloves are not a substitute for washing hands. As a customer, you should not automatically assume that because a person is wearing gloves while making your food, that they are using them correctly. In other words, don’t let gloves lead you into a false sense of security just because you see them being used.

When using gloves in food service, keep the following items in mind:

1. Gloves should be disposable: the gloves should be single use, never washed and reused

2. Have gloves for different tasks: Long gloves for mixing items such as coleslaw, short gloves for other tasks. You can even get color coded gloves such as red for meats, green for vegetables, etc.

3. Provide different glove sizes: you don’t want gloves that are too small or too large for your employees. Too large and they won’t stay on the hands, too small and they can rip & tear more easily.

4. Consider latex alternative gloves: in case an employee has a sensitivity to latex.

5. Focus on safety, durability, and cleanliness: gloves for food service should be labeled with the NSF international mark .

Food handlers should change their gloves whenever:

1. They become soiled or torn.
2. Before beginning a different task
3. At least every four hours during continual use, and more often when necessary.
4. After handling raw meat and before handling ready to eat foods.

When changing or getting a new pair of gloves, it is important to remember that your hands MUST be washed properly before putting on a new pair of gloves.

If you have any questions about anything that I present in these lessons, or have a question about anything regarding food safety, please feel free to contact me.

Tomorrows lesson: Proper personal hygiene practices for food safety.

by admin

September is ‪#‎National‬ ‪#‎Foodsafety‬ ‪#‎Education‬ month #NFSM. Today’s lesson: What foodborne contaminants need to grow.

Foodborne contaminants, also known as pathogens, need certain items in order to grow. In the foodservice industry, we are taught to use the acronym F.A.T.T.O.M. in order to remember these items. I will now break down the acronym and explain how each item works to help the pathogens survive.
1. Food: Like all organisms, the pathogenic microorganisms need food to survive. The food that they need are the food items that we are trying to protect from these microorganisms.
2. Acidity: Pathogens need a specific acidity level in order to grow. pathogens require a slightly acidic pH level of 4.6-7.5, while they thrive in conditions with a pH of 6.6-7.5.
3. Time: As listed in previous lessons, food items should not be allowed to remain in the temperature danger zone for more than 4 hours. This is the time portion.
4. Temperature: Pathogens grow best in the temperature danger zone (41 F to 135 F).
5. Oxygen: The majority of foodborne pathogens are aerobic, in that they need oxygen to survive and multiply. The microorganism Clostridium botulinum, the source of botulism, however, is anaerobic and does not require oxygen to grow and multiply.
6. Moisture: Water is essential for pathogens to grow. The less moisture available, the more difficult it is for the pathogens to survive. The water activity level of food (notated as the letter ‘a’ with a sub ‘w’) can range from 0.0 to 1.0, with water being 1.0.
If you have any questions about anything that I present in these lessons, or have a question about anything regarding food safety, please feel free to contact me.
Tomorrows lesson: Proper glove use in practicing food safety.
by admin

September is ‪#‎National‬ ‪#‎Foodsafety‬ ‪#‎Education‬ month #NFSM. Today’s lesson: Proper cooking temperature endpoints for food safety.

When it comes to cooking food safely, there are several factors to take into consideration. First, what type of item is being cooked, how is it being served, what is the flavor profile I am wishing to impart to my guests…the list can go on. Suffice to say, food service establishments are required to adhere to certain temperature requirements when cooking foods for the public.

Depending on the regulations for the area in which the food is being prepared, the temperature danger zone is either set at a high temperature of either 135 degrees F (57C) or 140 degrees F (60C) (Illinois is 135, Minnesota is 140, as an example). This sets the absolute minimum that food can be held at for service. If the food item drops below this temperature, it must be reheated (per proper reheating standards) up to 165 degrees F, if you wish to continue serving the product; however, that will be a topic for a later date.

For the minimum internal cooking temperature of most items, the temperature is fairly straightforward. These are:

Poultry (whole or ground: duck, turkey, or chicken): 165 degrees F (74C) for 15 seconds.

Stuffing and stuffed meat, fish, poultry, and pasta: 165 degrees for 15 seconds. This means that the stuffing and the meat that was stuffed both must have the temperature checked and both must register 165 degrees F (74C) for 15 seconds.

Items that are considered Temperature Controlled for Safety (TCS) foods that are cooked in a Microwave, whether it be eggs, poultry, fish, and meat: 165 degrees F (74C).

Ground Meat (beef, pork, and other meats): 155 degrees F (68C) for 15 seconds

Injected meats (including brined ham and flavor injected roasts) 155 degrees F (68C) for 15 seconds.

Pork, beef, veal, & Lamb:
          Steaks & Chops: 145 degrees F (63C) for 15 seconds
          Roasts: 145 degrees F (63C) for 4 minutes; this means the temperature must be checked and it must hold at or above 145 for four minutes.

Seafood (including fish, shellfish, and crustaceans): 145 degrees F (63C) for 15 seconds.

Shell eggs for immediate service: 145 degrees F (63C) for 15 seconds.

Commercially processed, ready-to-eat food: (hot held for service): 135 degrees F (57C). Examples include cheese sticks, deep fried vegetables, etc.

While the above mentioned temperatures are the requirements for the different food items, there are also “alternative” minimum internal cooking temperatures that can be utilized for certain food items.

For example, beef and pork roasts have an alternate cooking endpoint that allows for slow roasting of the product. The following temperatures and time periods represent the minimum internal temperatures and the amount of time that the item must maintain at or above that temperature to be considered safe for human consumption.

130 F (54C) – 112 minutes
131 F (55C) – 89 minutes
133 F (56C) – 56 minutes
135 F (57C) – 36 minutes
136 F (58C) – 28 minutes
138 F (59C) – 18 minutes
140 F (60C) – 12 minutes
142 F (61C) – 8 minutes
144 F (62C) – 5 minutes
145 F (63C) – 4 minutes

Additionally, there are alternative minimum internal temperatures for ground and injected meats. This is the best way to ensure that your hamburger is safe and can still enjoy it when cooked medium rare. These times and temperatures are:

145 F (63C) – 3 minutes
150 F (66C) – 1 minute
155 F (68C) – 15 seconds
158 F (70C) – < 1 second

If you have any questions about anything that I present in these lessons, or have a question about anything regarding food safety, please feel free to contact me.

Tomorrows lesson: What foodborne contaminants need to grow.