As many of us unexpectedly work from home because of the coronavirus, CR identifies a few products from our testing that will help make doing so easier.

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Many people touch the same surfaces you touch when you go out to buy essentials, like groceries. These tips can help you stay safe.

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You can use common household products to fight the novel coronavirus.

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This week we cover tips on how to keep your car clean during the Coronavirus outbreak. Find out which cleaners work best to kill the virus while preserving the interior of your car. Plus, we discuss our test results of the 2020 Toyota Highlander and answer audience questions about CR Top Picks and the reliability of American made cars.

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SHOW NOTES:

1:05 - Disinfecting the interior of your car

6:45 - 2020 Toyota Highlander test results

13:37 - Send us your questions at TalkingCars@iCloud.com

13:47 - Question #1: Pierre | Québec, QC; I agree with 90% of your Top Picks cars this year. (The only car I would not buy is the Supra.) But why did you not choose at least one Porsche, Genesis or Mazda in your Top Picks? I personally believe the Genesis G80 and Mazda 3 are really good buys.

18:18 - Question #2: Steve | West Chester, PA; I'd love to buy a car from an American brand, like Ford or Chevrolet. However, my own experience, and your reliability rankings tell me that these cars will typically be much less reliable. Reliability and longevity are the top criteria for me. How can American nameplates have such poor reliability year after year? Why aren't they learning how to do this? They are keeping away those of us who don't want to spend money on repairs or spend our time at the dealership.

20:39 - Question #3: Ray | Henderson, NV; Many of the newest cars, including my Audi A6, have a sport or dynamic drive mode. This seems to increase the RPMs in the vehicle, and I was wondering if it’s safe to keep the car in this mode at all times. Does it affect engine or transmission reliability? Thanks for the service you provide, and shout out to the crew, especially the 2 Mikes!

LINKS:

How to Kill Coronavirus in Your Car Without Damaging Interior Surfaces: https://www.consumerreports.org/tires-car-care/how-to-kill-coronavirus-in-your-car-without-damaging-interior-surfaces/

2020 Toyota Highlander: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/toyota/highlander/2020/overview/

10 Top Picks: Bets Cars of the Year: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars-best-cars-top-picks-2020/

2020 Autos Spotlight: https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/best-cars-suvs-autos-spotlight/index.htm

With the coronavirus spreading, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends routine cleaning of any "high-touch" surfaces in your home, including your remote control. For more about cleaning products that can kill the novel coronavirus, visit https://www.consumerreports.org/cleaning/common-household-products-that-can-destroy-novel-coronavirus.

Coronavirus Resource Hub
https://www.consumerreports.org/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-updates/

Coronavirus FAQ: What You Need to Know About COVID-19
https://www.consumerreports.org/coronavirus/coronavirus-faq-what-you-need-to-know-covid-19/

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To make sure you and your family have the latest, trusted information about staying healthy and stopping the spread of the coronavirus, Consumer Reports hosted a Facebook Live event Tuesday 3/24/20 with our experts to help you navigate this crisis.

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Muscle pain, headaches, and sore eyes are common ailments when working in a less-than-ideal workspace for an extended period of time. These seven ergonomic tips will help you ease the strain during the coronavirus pandemic.

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This week, we discuss how to protect yourself against the coronavirus when pumping gas. Plus, we share test results on our 2020 Hyundai Sonata, looking at how it stacks up against the heavyweights in the category such as Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and the Subaru Legacy. We finish the episode with audience questions about whether car buying incentives get better during an economic shakeup (like the coronavirus pandemic), and whether CR engineers use decibel meters when evaluating cabin noise.

-----------------------------------

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Video version: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-cars-hq/id630839767?mt=2

Audio version: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-cars-mp3/id630831189?mt=2

Have a question for our experts? Leave a comment on this episode, or reach out to us directly!

From your iOS device, iMessage us at TalkingCars@icloud.com to send a photo, video, or text directly to the Talking Cars team!

We love to feature our viewers on the show, so submit video questions at https://www.consumerreports.org/cars-talking-cars/

Subscribe to Talking Cars on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Jr8wJRJyN9v8T6LC1fQQ6

SHOW NOTES
-----------------------------------

00:56 - How to Stay Safe at the Pump
08:02 - 2020 Hyundai Sonata Test Results
17:49 - Question #1: How to disinfect your car?
18:48 - Question #2: Do car buying incentives get better during an economic shakeup?
24:27 - Question #3: Would it be better to use a decibel meter for cabin noise evaluation?

----------------------------------

Coronavirus Resource Hub
https://www.consumerreports.org/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-updates/

How to Protect Yourself Against Coronavirus When Pumping Gas
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars-how-to-protect-yourself-against-coronavirus-when-pumping-gas/

2019 New York Auto Show: 2020 Hyundai Sonata
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-CL_zbxHhs

2018 Hyundai Sonata Quick Drive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivwv3EonvPc

4K Review: 2018 Toyota Camry Quick Drive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpOUrt8sLGE

4K Review: 2018 Honda Accord Quick Drive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRFEpKCeM9w

2020 Subaru Legacy Quick Drive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oosO1qbA7uw

2017 Hyundai Elantra Quick Drive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1hxLaQO1Gg

-----------------------------------

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According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes affects 30.3 million Americans. Of those individuals, only about 23.1 million were diagnosed. Additionally, it’s estimated that about 1.5 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed every year.

This debilitating disease has a huge impact on those who live with it. Type 2 diabetes can cause increased thirst and hunger, frequent urination and headaches. It can also lead to more severe health complications, such as heart disease and blurred vision, which is referred to as diabetic blindness or retinopathy.

What is Diabetic Blindness?
According to the National Eye Institute, diabetic retinopathy is the most common type of eye disease in the U.S. It’s caused by high blood sugar levels leading to the swelling of the blood vessels of the retina, which often leads to leaking fluid. It may also cause the blood vessels to close, which can stop blood from passing through. This ultimately shuts down the retina and can result in blindness.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, there are two stages of diabetic eye disease: non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. NPDR occurs when the tiny blood vessels leak, causing the retina to swell or close off. Most commonly, this leads to blurriness in vision.

PDR is more severe. The retina goes through neovascularization, which causes the retina to grow new blood vessels. The problem is these vessels are very fragile, and they often bleed into the vitreous. This can cause dark spots in vision but can also lead to blindness. The new blood vessels may also make scar tissue to form, which can cause the retina to detach.

What are the Signs and Symptoms?
According to the NEI, symptoms are minimal or non-existent in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, making the disease to progress and impact vision before knowing when to take action. But there are ways a professional can detect the disease. A comprehensive eye exam that measures one’s ability to read and see objects from a distance can determine if you’re dealing with something that’s impacting your vision.

How to Protect Yourself
Early detection and treatment are the safest ways to protect yourself from diabetic blindness. However, we recommend taking care of your body to avoid diabetes in the first place. A healthy, wholesome plant-based eating regimen like the Hallelujah Diet can help you maintain a healthy weight and regulate your blood sugar levels to avoid a debilitating disease like diabetes. Ultimately, this will help you avoid the need for insulin and other medications. God created the natural sustenance of the Earth as the fuel for our bodies, but also as the natural medicine to teach our bodies how to self-heal. When you eat organic foods and stop treating your body like a garbage bin, it will reward you and help you live a long, fulfilling life.

Learn more about how our faithful followers have kissed diabetes goodbye with our plant-based diet!

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At The New You Plan, because we are a food company, we fall into the category of essential services and are therefore permitted to continue shipping our products. However, stringent changes have been put in place to ensure the health and safety of both our staff and customers during the Covid-19 crisis. Here’s everything you need to know…

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, measures have been put in place in order to adhere to new government policies within our business. This means the following:

Our customer services team

Our customer service team are now all operating remotely. However, we will still be taking calls / live chats and emails so you can easily get in touch. The nature of this access still also ensures we adhere to data protection regulations. The only impact we have here is that call volumes have increased so if you are unable to get through to us on your first try, please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as one of our agents is available. If you prefer, use the live chat function on the website and ask for us to call you back.

Our dispatch team / warehouse

Again, we have seen a recent increase in orders, however we have increased capacity to ensure that all orders are being dispatched within the promised timescales. If this changes we will be updating this blog immediately and contacting affected customers where possible. We have set up additional spaces to ensure

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Learn how to stock your pantry to make healthy meals quick and easy! If you’re wondering what to buy to easily make healthy recipes with what you have on hand, keep reading. Where to buy healthy groceries You can shop for healthy food at any supermarket or farmer’s market. You don’t have to shop at…

Read More

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I myself was diagnosed with a fibroid by my PCP about 3 years ago.  I didn’t have any of the possible symptoms.  No heavy or painful periods that can sometimes be a sign of fibroids.

At the time my doctor suspected a fibroid during a routine pap smear and sent me to get an ultrasound.  I got a call from the doctors office nurse to tell me over the phone that I indeed did have a fibroid and then was like ok good-bye.  But hold on I have some questions.  What can we do about it?  The nurse then told me that the doctor doesn’t do ANYTHING about my fibroid until I start to develop symptoms.  What!  This is NOT ok and should not be how our healthcare system works.  In my mind fibroids are a symptoms of something deeper going on and with my own experience (and with all my clients) that was absolutely the case!

I was told that the best “treatment” for my fibroid was birth control pills.  But I had already been on birth control for many years and it actually likely caused my fibroid in the first place vs preventing one from growing.  Because guess what, BCPs can contribute to estrogen dominance and fibroids are linked to estrogen issues.

Some of the common conventional recommendations for fibroids include birth control (as was in my case), a doctor can go in and try to cut off the blood supply to the fibroid, or sometimes in

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Well are at the end of March now…

I think this is a month that we will all remember for the rest of our lives. It is a month that has changed the world forever, and it is a month that will go down in history.

So much has happened this month and a lot of us have felt disorientated and not sure exactly what day of the week it is!

A lot of us are still processing what is actually happening, and in a way we are grieving for our normal lives.

The human race is born to win.

We will figure this out and we will get through this time. It will pass!

In a way it is good that it is a global problem, because that means that the whole world will come together as one to solve it.

For most of us, our role in overcoming this is to simply stay at home.

While we are at home, the best thing we can do is establish new healthy routines, and focus on our health and fitness.

Without routines; we will feel depressed.

Without healthy eating & movement; we will gain weight.

To help us stay focused on our healthy routines and habits having an exciting image of the future will help us to keep going.

I read a post on Facebook today that described so well, what we all have to look forward to. I have edited it

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Now is the time more than ever to take care of our health.

With the given phase of life, we’re experiencing right now, being intentional about our health and how we’re choosing to nourish our bodies from a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual perspective is more important than ever.

It’s a great time to pay gratitude to your health, your body, and all the amazing things it allows you to do each day like think critically, experience love and community, call your loved ones, to use your voice to speak up and spread compassion, and so many other amazing things we often take for granted.

In addition, just like with any news or collective event that happens, everyone has something to share about it so I want to make sure you’re getting the most accurate, helpful, and healthy resources for your health, your family, and your community. That’s why here in this article you’ll learn what foods can support your immune system, what supplements we know can contribute to supporting your immune system or specific health conditions.

The key here and whenever you’re reading articles online related to your health and coronavirus is to keep in mind since this is such a new virus there are no specific studies just yet that are conclusive stating that one specific food or supplement or lifestyle action can prevent, treat, or cure this virus.

So what you’ll find in this article are the studies and health conditions or ways foods, supplements, and lifestyle

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The power of a plant-based diet can never be underestimated. For more than 25 years, the Hallelujah Diet has been effectively eliminating sickness and helping people get back to living a strong and healthy life. By boosting the immune system with the nutrients and vitamins of raw, leafy greens and vibrant fruits and vegetables, the body’s miraculous self-healing abilities kick into gear. There is not one area of health that raw eating does not impact.

Take a look at how a primarily raw plant-based diet can help reduce and prevent allergies:

What Causes Allergies?
Numerous studies have indicated that diet has an effect on asthma and allergies. According to Asthma UK, avoiding certain foods and focusing on fresh, whole foods can help eliminate the severity of asthma as well as other allergies. Foods high in saturated fats, sugar, salt and items that are overly processed can trigger symptoms and make them worse.

Specifically, arachidonic acid found in red meat has been linked to allergic inflammation because of the cytokines and leukotrienes it brings into your body, the Naturopathic Medicine explained. The necessary amount of arachidonic acid that the body needs is already produced naturally, eliminating the need for the consumption of red meat.

Essentially, the Standard America Diet can weaken the immune system and make the body more susceptible to allergens. Avoiding the SAD can eliminate risk factors for allergies, as the Rev. George Malkmus has explained. 

Asthma and allergies impact thousands of Americans each year.

Focus on Diet, Not Pills
Food

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While you're helping kids with their schoolwork during the coronavirus pandemic, internet hackers may be looking for ways to access your personal information. These defensive tips are as easy as ABC.

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Having a healthy relationship with food can be really challenging. 

We see messages every day that says there’s “good” food and “bad” food or that you should eat this and never eat that. 

Food is our nourishment for our physical bodies and nourishment on a cellular level, so it’s incredibly important to pay attention to consuming a wide variety of foods that contribute to your health and prevent chronic disease. 

But food is also more than just that physical nourishment. It’s a way of connecting to others, to other cultures, exploring new things, experiencing pleasure and enjoyment from it. 

Food is something we can’t live without — meaning that it’s present in our day to day life for as long as we live, and most of us eat 35+ meals a week which is 35+ opportunities to nourish our bodies or 35+ ways we stress out about food.

But stressing out about food can sometimes contribute to more unhealthy behaviors than just practicing balance.

So in this video, I’m going to take you through 5 steps to practice to begin making a healthier relationship with food.

First things first, cultivating a healthier relationship with food isn’t impossible and it’s not something that happens overnight. It requires a lot of self-compassion, patience, practice, and many times professional practitioners who can support your journey.

You’re also not alone if one of your goals is to cultivate a healthier relationship with food.

There are so many factors that influence and play a

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You should try to limit your trips to the grocery store. But if it's hard to get delivery and it's time to go to the store, these tips can keep you safe while shopping.

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While thyroid cancer is one of the least common forms of cancer and also one of the most treatable, it still impacts thousands of people each year. As the American Thyroid Association explained, even patients with the most advanced forms of the disease have options for effective treatments and a relatively good prognosis.

The Thyroid
Though it doesn’t always garner much attention, the thyroid gland plays a very important role in the body. As the ATA explained, the thyroid is responsible for making hormones that are distributed to each of the organs in the body. The thyroid hormone itself is vital to the function of key organs like the heart and the brain. It also helps to keep the body warm and use its energy effectively. 

Risk Factors and Symptoms
As with all risk factors, there are some that can be controlled and some that can not. With thyroid cancer, family history, gender and age are common causes. Women are three times more likely than men to have thyroid cancer, the American Cancer Society explained. It most commonly occurs in women between the ages of 40 and 60 and in men between the ages of 60 and 80.

There are two big risk factors that can be monitored, however. Exposure to radiation and a diet lacking in iodine are two known risk factors that can lead to thyroid cancer – both of which are somewhat preventable. 

The majority of symptoms will occur in or around the neck and include swelling, pain

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No matter what a viral YouTube video tells you, you don’t need to sanitize your fruits and vegetables. Here are evidence-based tips for grocery shopping safely during the COVID-19 outbreak – from registered dietitians.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, grocery shopping is understandably a cause of stress and anxiety for many of us. When at the store, touching surfaces and objects such as shopping carts, freezer door handles, and grocery items are inevitable. You may be asking yourself if you need to disinfect your groceries? Is it okay to use reusable bags? Could the virus be transmitted from objects and food? These are all valid questions, considering the grocery store is such a high-touch space with possible risk. 

The good news is, there are no documented cases of COVID-19 that indicate viral transmission through food. However, given that COVID-19 can survive on surfaces for some time, theoretically, it is possible to pick up the virus if you touch a surface or an item someone infected has coughed or sneezed on. While grocery chains have ramped up cleaning and sanitation measures to keep customers safe, it is essential that we also maintain proper hygiene when grocery shopping. 

How to grocery shop safely during the COVID-19 outbreak

Mind the shopping cart/basket/food packaging

The shopping cart, basket and food packaging carry a certain level of risk. Bear in mind; it depends on the amount of virus deposited on surfaces as well as the dose you are exposed to.

According to estimates, from the New England Journal of Medicine, the virus remains viable on hard surfaces – making these potentially high-risk surfaces

• Plastic and steel, for up to 3 days, 
• Cardboard, for 24 hours
• Copper, for four hours

It makes sense then, as a best practice measure, to use disinfecting wipes to clean high-touch surfaces of the shopping cart or basket. Remember to discard used wipes immediately after use. Alternatively, you could wear disposable gloves, but we wouldn’t recommend this for several reasons. Latex gloves could soon be in short supply for healthcare workers – who need them most. Plus, they are not durable and designed for everyday activities, like grocery shopping. There is a high risk they could rip. 

What’s really important is to use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, as you leave the store and wash your hands immediately when you get home after your grocery trip.

What about packaged foods and containers? From what we know currently, you could set aside non-perishable groceries for three days before using them. 

All that said, let’s not forget that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the transmission of the virus is far more likely to spread through respiratory droplets from an infected person and much less likely via surfaces or food. 

Keep your distance when grocery shopping

Though stores are not as crowded as they used to be before the pandemic, it is vital to keep a safe distance between yourself and fellow shoppers. Consider keeping a minimum distance of two meters away from other customers and staff. You want to be especially mindful of this one when lining up at the cash. Plus, use a credit or debit card at the checkout. That way, you limit the amount of contact handing and receiving money. Also, use your own pen to sign receipts. It’s also a good idea to visit stores during less busy hours to avoid crowds as much as possible. 

If you’re anxious, consider bagging your groceries yourself to minimize touching by the store clerk.

Do not use chemicals on produce

It is not safe to use disinfectants such as bleach, chlorine or isopropyl alcohol when washing fruits and vegetables. Neither is it a good idea to use disinfecting wipes to clean your produce. The use of any of these products could be harmful to the body and cause digestive problems. Unfortunately, natural products such as vinegar are not effective at killing the virus. To that end, the best strategy for cleaning fresh produce is vigorous washing under running water.

Despite what you’ve been hearing about washing food with soap and water, remember this: the USDA advises that we should not wash fruits and vegetables with detergent or soap because these are not approved or labelled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use on foods. There’s a chance that you could ingest soap or detergent residues absorbed on the produce. Your stomach may struggle to handle these residues, and you could experience nausea and a stomach upset.

Similarly, it’s essential to wash all fruits – even fruits that have a peel, such as bananas. Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling produce. You may consider using a scrub brush to cleanse your produce better. Don’t forget to clean the scrub brush thoroughly with soap and water after each use. 

Wash all containers

Consider washing all containers and non-porous packaged products with a small amount of soap and water before placing them in the fridge or cupboards. This includes all cans, bottles, dairy containers, and frozen food packages. If you are unable to wash certain non-perishable products, “quarantine” them in an out-of-the-way place for a minimum of three days.

Rethink bags when doing your grocery shopping

It would be best to avoid reusable grocery bags during the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 28th, 2020, the BC Centre for Disease Control released a 3-page guidance document for food retailers. In particular, the report lays out:

• Customers should not use their own reusable bags, containers or boxes

When using single-use grocery bags, consider discarding them as a precaution, and wash your hands after handling bags.

Foods with a long shelf-life and what to do to make your fresh fruits and veggies last longer?

Aside from food safety concerns while grocery shopping, you may also be wondering what to do to make your fruits and veggies last longer. Of course, we should all limit our trips to the grocery store to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus. 

Besides fresh produce – frozen essentials, pantry and canned food items also serve as excellent options, given the current circumstances. If you’re on the hunt for some Desi~licious recipe inspiration, here is a list of 44 easy and healthy recipes using pantry staples and frozen foods.

If you’re considering purchasing fresh vegetables and storing them for longer, think about blanching them.

• Wash and chop vegetables and blanch them in boiling water for one minute. 
• Then immediately rinse the vegetables under cold running water. This step helps deactivate the enzymes that result in food spoilage. 
• Store the vegetables in airtight freezer bags or containers before freezing. 

It’s all about treating them well and storing them right. Remember, blanching works best with vegetables that have low water content such as carrots, Brussels sprouts, and green beans. 

No matter what a viral YouTube video tells you, here are evidence-based tips for #groceryshopping safely during the #COVID19 outbreak – from registered dietitians. #foodsafety #dietitian
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What about fruits and vegetables that literally last longer? Like with anything you buy, the length of time it will last primarily depends on the state it’s in. When purchasing fruits, choose options, such as apples, oranges, potatoes, and squashes, to name a few. Perishable fruits, such as berries, could be stored in the freezer. Fruits such as pineapple, cantaloupe, mangoes, and peaches can be chopped and placed in an airtight freezer bag or container before storage.

How to Store Food Sources of Protein after grocery shopping

Perishable items, including tofu, eggs, and yogurt, should be consumed by the best before date on the package. Beans, canned or dry, are an excellent option as they have a very long shelf-life. When it comes to fish and seafood, meat, and poultry, place them in airtight freezer bags and store them in the freezer – for at least two months. Be sure to date all foods placed in the freezer. 

Handling Food and Preparing Meals Safely

Always start by sanitizing all surfaces with a disinfectant. You could use any of the following:

• Household cleaner or disinfectant
• Soap and water
• Bleach solution (use four teaspoons of bleach per litre of water
• Alcohol solution with at least 70% alcohol

When preparing food safely, follow these four key steps:

Step 1: Separate

• • Keep raw poultry, meat, fish and seafood separate from other foods (especially fresh vegetables and fruits)
  • When using utensils or cutting boards for preparing meat, fish and poultry, wash them thoroughly with hot water and soap

Step 2: Chill

• • Do not leave raw poultry, meat, fish, and seafood at room temperature for more than two hours
  • Refrigerate all the above items at below 4°C
  • Frozen food should be thawed in the fridge or microwave – not at room temperature

Step 3: Clean 

• • Hands should be washed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before, during, and after handling food. 
  • Wash all fresh produce under running water
  • All utensils, cutting boards, and serving trays should be washed with hot soapy water

Step 4: Cook

• • All poultry, meat, fish, seafood, and eggs should be cooked to 74°C; this would kill COVID-19 and all other pathogens in food
  • Use a food thermometer to measure the internal temperature of food
  • All hot food should be kept at above 60°C

Once the food is prepared, be sure to practice good hygiene to minimize hand contact. For example, when serving food, make use of utensils. And don’t forget to wash your hands frequently.

What food safety questions do you have? Are you surprised by any of the precautions about grocery shopping? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this blog post, would love to hear from you! Leave a comment, or share a photo and hashtag #desiliciousrd on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! 

This blog post was written in collaboration with Sanaz Baradaran MSc, RD, OCT, BEd

Sanaz is a Registered Dietitian and nutritionist. She holds Bachelor’s degrees in Human Biology, Secondary Education, and Food and Nutrition, as well as a Master’s degree in Kinesiology and Health Sciences. As a Registered Dietitian in private practice, Sanaz is trained to provide advice and counselling about diet, food and nutrition using the best available evidence coupled with good judgment about the client’s unique values and circumstances.

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The post Food Safety Guidelines For Grocery Shopping: What You Should Know During The Pandemic – From Registered Dietitians appeared first on Top Seller Website.