BETTER LIVING
for Texans
Committed to serving Texans and to improving lives
Spring 2014
Victoria County
In this Issue:
* Egg Safety
* Easy Egg Salad
* Understanding Dates
* Upcoming Events
EGG SAFETY
It's spring -- the season to enjoy getting outdoors and celebrate special occasions.
And eggs are especially important for many spring activities.
Eggs are perishable and need to be handled properly to prevent foodborne illness.
Here's what YOU can do to have a safe and egg-cellent spring:
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Always wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after food handling.
Only use eggs that have been refrigerated and discard eggs that are cracked or dirty.
For hard boiled eggs: Place a single layer of eggs in a saucepan. Add water to at least one inch above the eggs.
Cover the pan, bring the water to a boil, and carefully remove the pan from the heat. Let the eggs stand (18
minutes for extra large eggs, 15 minutes for large, 12 minutes for medium). Immediately run cold water over
the eggs. When the eggs are cool enough to handle, place them in an uncovered container in the refrigerator
where they can air-dry.
When decorating eggs, be sure to use food-grade dyes. It is safe to use commercial egg dyes, liquid food
coloring, and fruit-drink powders. When handling eggs, be careful not to crack them. Otherwise, bacteria could
enter the egg through the cracks in the shell.
Hide eggs in places that are protected from dirt, pets, and other potential sources of bacteria.
Make sure the “found” eggs are back in the refrigerator or consumed within two hours.
Remember that hard-boiled eggs are only safe to eat for one week after cooking.
Have a great Spring!
Source: “Eggstra Care For Spring Celebrations” article at
www.fightbac.org
How do bunnies stay healthy?
Egg-xercise!
The Better Living for Texans program
provides free lessons for limited resource
audiences on topics such as basic nutrition,
food safety, and food budgets.
For more information please contact:
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Phone: (361) 575-4581
http://agrilife.org/victoriacountyblt/
Easy Egg Salad
Don’t know what to do with all those leftover hard-boiled eggs? Make this quick and easy egg salad!
Ingredients
4 hard boiled eggs, finely chopped
2 teaspoons pickle relish
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1/4 cup mayonnaise
Directions
1. Wash your hands and clean your cooking area.
2. Mix all ingredients together. Serve chilled.
Makes 4 servings 140 calories per serving
From: http://recipefinder.nal.usda.gov/
Upcoming Events
Understanding Dates on Food Packages
Walk Across Texas Kickoff Event
Saturday, March 29
11:00am—2:00 pm
Victoria Mall– Dillard’s Court area
FREE to sign-up and participate
in this 8 week group walking event
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Head Start Round Up Event
Tuesday, April 1
9:00 am—6:00 pm
First United Methodist Church
Registration for pre-school aged children
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Cooking Well With Diabetes
Tuesdays, April 1, 8, 15 & 29
5:30 pm—7:00 pm
First United Methodist Church
$10 fee for all 4 classes
Call (361) 575-4581 to register
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Healthy Aging Conference
Thursday, May 15
8:30 am—1:30 pm
Victoria Community Center Dome
$2 fee at the door, lunch provided
The dates on food packages will tell you when a food was
manufactured, how long that food will be fresh, and when food
should be thrown away because it is unsafe to eat. By law, only
infant formulas are required to be dated. Dates on other foods are
optional and are determined by each product’s manufacturer.
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“Sell-by” dates are designed to tell grocery stores when they should
no longer sell a food item. “Use-by” or “best-if-used-by” dates are
the last dates that a food should be eaten if you want the best
quality. Most foods are safe to eat after their “sell-by,”
“best-if-used-by,” and “use-by” dates, IF the food has been handled
and stored properly. However, with washed and bagged produce, it
is recommended that the product be thrown away after any stamped
date has passed.
Another type of date found on foods is an “expiration date.” Baby
formula, baby food, and eggs usually come with an expiration date
and most foods should be thrown away after their expiration date
has passed, with the exception of eggs. If eggs are handled and
stored properly, they can be safely used for up to 30 days after the
date stamped on the carton.
Using the dates on food packages can help assure that you are using
the safest foods.
And remember:
“When in doubt, throw it out!”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and
activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex,
marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic
information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public
assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information
(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600
(voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of Adjudication,
1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free
Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Victoria County
528 Waco Circle
Victoria, Tx 77904
Phone: (361) 575-4581 Fax: (361) 572-0798