Move Over Ariel! Karen's Here
According to Karen, she "can answer inquiries from the public about the prevention of foodborne illness, as well as the safe handling, preparation, and storage of meat, poultry, and egg products, from an extensive database of food safety information."
So we decided to put Karen to the test. While she may be resourceful, her command of local food safety issues needs a little work.
We asked Karen, "Should we eat a jumbo slice from Pizza Mart on 18th Street NW since it was shut down for health code violations?"
Her answer?
Are you asking a question about food product dating? I can answer any of the questions below about this subject.
* Can a grocery store change the date on meat packages?
* How long can you store dated food products?
* Is food product dating required by federal law?
* Is food safe after the date expires?
* What do can codes mean?
* What is a closed or coded date?
* What is open dating?
* What kind of dates are on cartons of fresh eggs?
* What types of food are dated?
* Why are there no dates on my meat packages?
CoolGov tries to test her abilities even more, asking her: "Karen, will you be my love slave?"
Karen's response? It deals with the safety, storage and inspection of honey.
... the ideal storage time for honey at 12 months. After that time, it remains safe but the quality may not be as good. Honey can become cloudy, crystallized or solidified but this is not a safety concern. The honey can be microwaved or heated in a pan of hot water to clarify or melt it.