How does food get transported to stores?

Food distributors provide a bridge between the people who produce food and those who sell it. They gather products from farmers and food processors, store them in warehouses, and then transport them to retail and wholesale buyers.

What happens to food in supermarkets?

Once food hits its sell-by date, many markets donate products to food banks or sell them to salvage stores. As darkness falls, your local supermarket becomes a hive of activity. Some is given away to food banks, some sold to salvage stores, and the rest taken by people who scrounge outside supermarkets.

How far does your food travel to get to your plate?

about 1,500 miles
It is estimated that the meals in the United States travel about 1,500 miles to get from farm to plate. Why is this cause for concern? There are many reasons: This long-distance, large-scale transportation of food consumes large quantities of fossil fuels.

Where do supermarkets get their food from?

Most retail establishments source their grocery supplies through wholesale or bulk distributors. They handle the supply of conventional or specialty items (such as organic, natural and world foods), buying directly from manufacturers and then selling to retailers.

How far does average produce travel?

Studies estimate that processed food in the United States travels over 1,300 miles, and fresh produce travels over 1,500 miles, before being consumed.

How to keep your food safe at the grocery store?

In your shopping cart, separate raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs from other foods and place packages of raw meat, poultry, and seafood in plastic bags if available. When you check out, place raw meat, poultry, and seafood in separate bags from other foods. At home, place raw meat, poultry, and seafood in containers or sealed plastic bags.

What should you keep separate from ready to eat foods?

Separate: Don’t cross-contaminate.external icon. Raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs can spread germs to ready-to-eat foods—unless you keep them separate. Use separate cutting boards and plates for raw meat, poultry, and seafood.

What to do when you think your food is done?

When you think your food is done, place the food thermometer in the thickest part of the food, making sure not to touch bone, fat, or gristle. Refer to our Minimum Cooking Temperatures Chart to be sure your foods have reached a safe temperature.

What happens to the food in the grocery store?

Fresh vegetables and meats, are often cooked up for in-store deli and salad counters before they spoil, says supermarket consultant David J. Livingston. A portion of it is inevitably thrown into the garbage and ends up in landfills.

What foods should you pick up when grocery shopping?

Check out these few safety tips and stay food safe. When grocery shopping, make sure to pick up dry foods and household goods first (e.g. canned foods, grains, cereals and personal items), next fruit and veggies, then finally any perishables – hot and cold items (e.g. meat, dairy, seafood).

Why is it important to know food safety when shopping?

Even if food producers and sellers have followed the food safety laws, the quality and safety of your food can be affected by how you handle it. Once you purchase food, the safety of that food is your responsibility. When shopping for food, choose, pack and transport it carefully to make sure it stays safe to eat.

How to ensure food safety when shopping at a deli?

Prevent meat, chicken or fish juices leaking onto other products. Check that the staff use separate tongs/utensils or methods when handling different food types if you are buying from a deli. Wash your reusable shopping bags regularly, especially if they are soiled by food liquids.