Clean Out Your Refrigerator

Thanksgiving is coming. You know what that means: friends and family visiting, lots of food to buy and prepare. The day arrives, and you wade into the refrigerator looking for the chilled cranberry sauce. Where is it? Behind the container of Greek yogurt, that expired (is “use by” really that important?) 2 weeks ago? Maybe the cranberry sauce is lurking behind the carton of Chinese takeout from last week that you were going to eat for lunch … on Monday. Oops!

November 15th was National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. This annual event originated in 1995 by Whirlpool and is a good time to demonstrate just how varied and informative government documents can be. And though November 15th is past it’s never too late to take care of those culinary treasures in your refrigerator which have lost a bit of their nutritional luster.

So, grab a strong trash bag, don your plastic yellow gloves and put on your air filter face mask. But first, check out the treasure trove of government information below.


Food Safety from the USDA

Refrigeration and Food Safety
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/Refrigeration_&_Food_Safety/index.asp

Food Product Dating
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/Food_Product_Dating/index.asp

Fall and Winter Food Safety
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/Countdown_to_the_Holiday/index.asp

What does “Fresh” turkey really mean?
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Poultry_Label_Says_Fresh/index.asp

Removing Odors from Refrigerators and Freezers
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Removing_Odors_from_Refrigerators_and_Freezers.pdf

More Fact Sheets on food safety:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/index.asp

Refrigerator and Freezer Storage Chart
http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/storagetimes.html

Frozen Foods and Power Outages
http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/frozen_food.html

FoodSafety’s Channel on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/USDAFoodSafety
Lots about turkey right now


Regulation of refrigerators and freezers

Refrigerator Safety Act
http://www.cpsc.gov/BUSINFO/Rsa.pdf

Warnings about children and unused refrigerators
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/5072.html

Recalls by product type (freezer, refrigerator)
http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/prod.aspx
or all household products
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/household.html


Energy Efficiency

What is the Energy Star program http://www.energystar.gov/ , and does your refrigerator or freezer qualify?
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_find_es_products

How to Buy an Energy-Efficient Home Appliance
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/homes/rea07.shtm

Find a qualified refrigerator or freezer
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=refrig.search_refrigerators

Federal Trade Commission, Appliance Energy Data
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/eande/appliances/fridge.htm

Appliance labeling FAQs
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/eande/faq.htm

Incidentally, November 29 is “Throw Out Your Leftovers Day”. After reading through these government documents, I bet you will already have taken care of that!

Article contact: Cindy Roupe