Which Foods to Toss or Keep Past Their Prime: Expert Tips

Ensuring Food Safety with Shredded Paper

Proper food safety is crucial when handling, preparing, and storing foods. Illness due to food contamination can be serious, or even life-threatening in some cases. Using food safe shredded paper is one method that food establishments can employ to help reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.

How Shredded Paper Promotes Food Safety

Shredded paper isoften used for packaging fragile food items or absorbing excess moisture. For example, some deli meats and cheesesmay be wrapped or layered between sheets of thin paper. The paper helps cushion the food, prevent leakage, and soak up blood or other fluids.

Additionally, shredded paper is commonly used as bedding or lining in food transportation crates and boxes. This protects delicate produce like berries from getting crushed or molded during shipping. The paper provides padding and allows airflow around the food.

Requirements for Food Safe Paper

However, not all paper products are safe to use around food. Paper can be treated or contaminated with chemicals, ink, metals, and other substances that could be toxic. When selecting paper for food applications, its important to choose products that are certified as food safe.

Food safe shredded paper has met certain standards and criteria to ensure it will not pose contamination risks. Here are some specifics to look for:

• Free from chemical coatings or recycle symbols 3, 4, 6, or 7
• Unbleached or whitened without chlorine compounds
• PH neutral
• Certified by the FDA or EU as food safe

Recommended Uses of Food Grade Shredded Paper

In commercial food service and manufacturing operations, some common applications for food safe shredded paper include:

• Cushioning and lining fresh produce, meat, dairy, and seafood boxes
• Absorbing excess moisture and fluids from packaged deli foods
• Wrapping and separating frozen hamburgers, fruits, baked goods
• Protecting glass bottles, jars of sauces, condiments, and olive oil
• Layering between chocolate candies, cookies, and fragile baked goods

Additionally, shredded paper can be used for non-edible applications like food prep surface lining, oil and juice absorption, employee hand drying material, and pet food or treat bag filler.

How to Dispose of Used Food Paper Waste

There are a few responsible ways to discard of used food grade shredded paper and soiled food packaging:

• Recycle unsoiled and clean paper through regular paper recycling programs
• Compost soiled paper products if they are certified as commercially compostable
• Discard through solid waste removal for standard paper with food residue

The key is separating and diverting clean paper from the waste stream as much as possible. This helps maximize recycling levels and minimize landfill contributions. Prioritize purchasing recycled or sustainably-sourced food safe shredded paper whenever possible.

Identifying Spoiled Foods for Optimal Safety

In addition to protective packaging methods, understanding food freshness and signs of spoilage is also key. Some foods may still be safe to eat or freeze past printed expiration dates. However, other items require more caution.

How to Know if Food Has Spoiled

Here are some common indicators that food has spoiled and should be discarded:

• Mold growth
• Strong foul odors
• Very soft textures
• Shriveled appearance
• Discoloration or slimy residue
• Curdled consistency in dairy

When food looks or smells abnormal, err on the side of caution. Botulinum toxin and other pathogens do not always change the foods nature significantly. Do not taste test suspect items.

High Risk Foods for Quick Spoilage

In general, fresh meats, aquatic foods, eggs, dairy, cooked products, prepared meals, cut fruits and vegetables tend to spoil quicker than shelf-stable items. Here are some high risk items that must be discarded at the first signs of spoilage:

• Raw eggs with broken

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.