You may choose to preserve food at home to save money, to have greater control over what you consume, or for the simple satisfaction of doing it yourself. Regardless of the reasons, it is important to do it safely. Using the proper equipment and following recommended guidelines and recipes can ensure that the food you preserve at home is safe and delicious.

Clostridium botulinum is a spore forming bacterium. A spore is a phase that some cells enter when conditions  become unfavorable. Spores are resistant to extreme temperatures, drying, and UV light and can be found in soil and water. Spore are found everywhere in the environment.

Salmonella species are common, naturally occurring bacteria found in the intestinal tracts of many animals and birds. When certain species of Salmonella are transferred from animals to humans – often through food contaminated with animal feces – humans experience symptoms of Salmonella poisoning.

Salmonella species are a leading cause of foodborne bacterial illnesses in humans. Human salmonellosis (the disease caused by Salmonella) is generally increasing worldwide. Poultry, beef and eggs are the predominant reservoirs of Salmonella species with other foods (fruits and vegetables) as potential vehicles for infection.

What is E. coli O157:H7?

Escherichia coli is a common bacterium found in the human intestinal tract and vital to the proper functioning of our digestive system. While most strains of E. coli are beneficial to humans, a few are pathogenic. The most infamous example is E. coli O157:H7.

While this bacterium is too small to be seen without the aid of a microscope, E. coli O157:H7 is capable of causing serious damage to our digestive tract. First discovered as a foodborne pathogen in 1982, numerous E. coli O157:H7 foodborne outbreaks have been documented.

Freezing extends the shelf life of food. Blanching food before freezing prevents the enzymes in foods from affecting the quality of the foods during storage.

Los microbios o bacterias pueden ser benefíciales pero también perjudiciales. Los alimentos pueden tener microbios buenos y malos. Las bacterias “buenas” tales como las bacterias en el yogurt nos ayudan a digerir alimentos y la levadura que nos ayuda a preparar alimentos como el pan. Los microbios o bacteria “malas” pueden causarnos enfermedades. Para los niños pequeños, las bacterias malas pueden ser especialmente dañinas porque ellos todavía están formando su sistema de defensas o sistema inmunológico.

La falta adecuada de lavar las manos es una causa importante de las enfermedades infecciosas.

The process for canning foods in the home depends on the acidity of the food, which is determined by its pH. Low-acid foods have a pH more than 4.6, and high-acid foods have a pH less than 4.6. In general, vegetables and meats are low-acid foods, and fruits are high-acid foods. High-acid foods can be safely processed in a boiling water bath, but low-acid foods must be processed in a pressure canner.

Germs can be helpful or harmful. Foods can carry both good and bad germs.

Failure to adequately wash hands is a major cause of infectious diseases.