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Food Safety & Preservation

Latest food safety and preservation information from Cook County Extension

February 17, 2010

Recipe Contest Deadline - March 1st!

Thank you to everyone who submitted a recipe for our Youth Garden Recipe Contest!

Are you planning to send one in? The deadline for entries is March 1, so please send it in soon.


Because there's nothing better than eating what you've grown, we're calling all educators, parents and children to submit your favorite school and youth garden recipes.

Winning recipes will be published with recognition in an upcoming children's book by Anne Nagro, author of the nationally-acclaimed Our Generous Garden and Nuestra Huerta Generosa, and Dancing Rhinoceros Press.

Winners also will

  • Receive an autographed copy of the book, and
  • Have their garden project featured on the GardenABCs website and newsletter


Get details on how to submit your recipe and what you could win: http://www.gardenabcs.com/Recipe_Contest.html

Anne Nagro
Author, Our Generous Garden and Nuestra Huerta Generosa

Posted by Nancy Kreith at 4:59 PM | Permalink |

February 4, 2010

Dates to Remember:

Upcoming training dates with Extension Specialist, Drusilla Banks:

Dining with Diabetes

University of Illinois

Urban Leadership Center

10244 S. Vincennes

Chicago, Illinois

February 10, 17, 24, March 3, 2010

Time: 9 a.m. to Noon

Dining with Diabetes

Wilbur Wright College

Room A213 (Arts Building)

March 1, 8, 15, 22, 2010

Time: 6 to 8:30 pm

Master Gardener Training

Herb Presentation

Garfield Park Conservatory

March 31, 2010

Time: TBD

Family Farmed Expo

March 13, 2010

(more information to follow)

For more information or to register please contact Drusilla Banks at 773-481-8634

Posted by Nancy Kreith at 5:32 PM | Permalink |

February 2, 2010

Toxins in Canning Lids?

Master Food Preserver, Rosemary asked, is there possible toxic ingredients in canning jar lids?

Below is a reply with information from Carol Schlitt, Extension Educator, Nutrition and Wellness.

"Yes – currently all Jarden products, makers of the lids for Ball, Kerr, and Golden Harvest, are manufactured with a BPA plastic. FDA says the amount is well within the "safe exposure" range but many individuals are very concerned about any BPA exposure."

The good thing about home processed foods is that there is a head-space and most of the time jars are stored upright so that exposure to the lid is minimized.

For more information on BPA, please see: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm064437.htm

Also, in today's Daily Illini was an article on BPA (how ironic!): http://www.dailyillini.com/news/campus/2009/10/29/toxicology-expert-raises-concerns-about-fda-chemical-regulations

Thank you for bringing this to our attention Master Food Preserver Rosemary!

Posted by Nancy Kreith at 3:09 PM | Permalink |