The Holiday Menu for Managing Meat Temperatures

November 23, 2011

During the holiday season, food preparers are warned early and often about safely cooking their feasts to prevent foodborne illnesses. Yet, the FDA acknowledges that holiday food preparation still gets rather sloppy. From garnishes to stuffing to pies, improperly handled food can transmit disease-causing organisms with symptoms appearing within a few hours up to as long as 28 days later. A major culprit can be mishandled or undercooked meat. With the volume of turkey, ham, duck, and other meat dishes on the menu throughout the season, safe preparation is essential for avoiding less-than-happy holidays.

Cole-Parmer offers several options to ensure safe temperatures of food, especially meat. The Taylor® Food Service Thermometers determine if the correct food temperature has been met and maintained. The Cole-Parmer® Stainless Steel Pocket Thermometers offer easy-read dials. NSF-Approved Digital Pocket Thermometers deliver a quick response (about 30 seconds) for most readings and a digital reading. The Cole-Parmer® Thermometer with Alarm/Timer (shown) allows users to view temperature, time, and set point simultaneously and also accurately program the alarm for easy use. Each of the models contains probes to penetrate dense meat surfaces.

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Posted by bdumey

Join Us at the STOP Foodborne Illness Event—and Win a Prize!

October 21, 2011

STOP Foodborne Illness, a nonprofit, public health organization, is recognizing Food Day (Monday, October 24) by holding a special event at the John Hancock Center in Chicago. Cole-Parmer is a co-sponsor of the event, taking place from 7:00 am to 10:00 am local time. Guests stopping by will earn a chance to spin the Food Safety Trivia Wheel and win a prize! Prizes include food safety items, storage containers, gift certificates, a weekend stay at the Palmer House Hilton, and more.

STOP is dedicated to the prevention of illness and death from foodborne pathogens by advocating for sound public policy, building public awareness, and assisting those impacted by foodborne illness.

Food Day is designed to advocate for affordable and healthy food produced in a sustainable and humane way. According to FoodDay.org, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) are the Honorary Co-Chairs for Food Day 2011. The day is sponsored by the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Stop by and meet our Cole-Parmer representative at the event, taking place at the base of the John Hancock Center, 875 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago.

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Posted by bdumey

What’s Cooking? Keeping Your Grills Hot and Salads Cold

May 26, 2011

With barbeques and picnics on the menu for the next few months, food safety becomes top of mind. Grilled meats, potato salad soaked in mayonnaise, macaroni salad. . .some of summer’s favorites can make us sick if they are not handled properly.

Keep in mind that temperature measurement is essential for proper food storage, cooking, and serving. Quick checks with a thermometer can ensure safety and a non-contact thermometer can remove the hazard of cross-contamination.

Oakton® Food Safety Infrared Thermometer

Oakton® Food Safety Infrared Thermometer

Check critical food temperatures with handheld infrared food thermometers. The Oakton® Food TempTestr Basic Infrared Thermometer provides safe, non-contact readings in a half-second. With easy one-handed operation, the thermometer also features laser sighting to pinpoint your exact target, selectable degrees (F/C) display, steam interference filter, and a hold function that freezes display for seven seconds after button release. The Oakton® Food Safety Infrared Thermometer is a combination contact/noncontact thermometer for all food applications. Its LED rapidly indicates if food temperature is in the bacterial growth safety zone. Green lights indicate safe temperatures below 40°F (4°C) and above 140°F (60°C). Red light indicates the HACCP danger zone between 40 to 140°F (4 to 60°C). The Raytek Infrared Thermometer is specifically designed for use in food applications. As a contact thermometer, it measures surfaces within ±2°F of the critical temperature zone of 32 to 150°F- the range where harmful bacteria grows most rapidly.

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Posted by bdumey

Look at our menu of products―in the new Cole-Parmer® FoodTECH Source®

August 5, 2010

Find the latest food safety, processing, and quality testing instruments in the 2010 edition of FoodTECH Source. A full 100 pages showcases a range of brand-name equipment used for efficient and safe processes in food production and research.

2010 FoodTech Source Catalog

2010 FoodTech Source Catalog

The innovative APEX 100 Metal Detector from Thermo Scientific is one of the new products highlighted in the catalog. Using only food-grade materials in its construction, the APEX 100 meets the hygienic standards required by the food industry and HACCP policy compliance. It features dual frequency and gain operation for maximum application flexibility and is fully tested to meet IP65/NEMA/ATEX requirements.

Other featured items include a variety of Oakton thermometers. The Super-Mini TempTestr® IR Thermometer, the Food TempTestr I IR Thermometer, and the Thermocouple Thermometers all take readings in food preparation areas, processing plants, laboratories, and other environments. A selection of refractometers, pH meters, and viscometers, along with chemicals and calibration services, are also offered.

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Posted by Scott

See Cole-Parmer at IFT, Chicago, July 18-20

July 8, 2010

Take a look at Cole-Parmer’s new and best-selling food process, quality, and safety products at the IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo®, held at McCormick Place in Chicago.

APEX 100 Metal Detector

APEX 100 Metal Detector

Innovative new products on display include the APEX 100 Metal Detector from Thermo Scientific. Using only food-grade materials in its construction, the APEX 100 meets the hygienic standards required by the industry—including HACCP policy compliance. It features dual frequency and gain operation for maximum application flexibility and is fully tested to meet IP65/NEMA/ATEX requirements. Designed for reliability and ease of use, the detector can be matched exactly to a specific conveyor width and product height through numerous aperture size configurations available.

Instruments for food quality and safety testing including refractometers, pH meters, viscometers, thermometers, and more will also be displayed.

Stop by booth #6719 and register for a chance to win one of twenty Super-Sizzling Summer Cool Packs containing a 12-can MusiCooler, a Wireless Weather Station, a 28-oz water bottle, and a freezer pack. You can also request the 2010 Cole-Parmer® FoodTECH Source® catalog.

For more information, call 800-323-4340 or visit ColeParmer.com/7979.

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Posted by bdumey

Holiday BBQ? Make Sure Your Meat Temperature is Safe

July 1, 2010
 
NSF-Flat-Surface Pocket Thermometer

NSF-Flat-Surface Pocket Thermometer

As the Fourth of July holiday nears, many are planning picnics and barbeques as they await the evening fireworks. Grilled brats, hamburgers, hot dogs, steak, fish, and chicken are typical fare for a summer feast. Yet, if meat is undercooked, it can lead to foodborne illness with symptoms including upset stomachs, diarrhea, fever, vomiting, cramps, dehydration, and more.       

To avoid ending the party before the light show begins, check the internal temperature of meat prior to serving it. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends a temperature of at least 71 °C (160 °F) for ground beef and at least 63 °C (145 °F) for steaks and fish. Poultry requires even higher temperatures 74°C (165 °F). Temperatures should be measured in the thickest part of the meat.      

NSF-Flat-Surface Pocket ThermometerCole-Parmer offers several NSF-Approved Digital Pocket Thermometers ideal for checking food temperatures. The economical Basic Thermometer has a temperature range of -40 to 300 °F and features a data hold button to freeze readings. The Cole-Parmer® Thermometer has °F/°C switchable ranges and displays updates every second. The Taylor® Flat-Edged Dial Safe T-Guard Thermometer includes a microbial sleeve with an additive that inhibits bacterial and fungal growth. The Flat-Surface Thermometer  is ideal for measuring temperatures on cooking grills, motors, or other flat surfaces. Many more options are also available online.    

Make it a safe holiday. As you grill out, keep the temperatures rising.

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Posted by bdumey

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