OTTAWA, ONTARIO – The summer season brings with it more food choices than are usually available to Canadians in the winter. A wider array of fruits and vegetables are accessible to us as they come into season and we tend to eat more fresh food as opposed to frozen, canned or processed foods. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is issuing the food security fact sheet Food Safety Facts for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables to remind consumers about secure preparation and handling of fresh produce.
While food safety is significant all the time, safe food handling is particularly significant in the summer months because: micro organisms grow well in warm humid weather; – Canadians tend to eat more fresh produce in the summer; and – more people are preparing foods outdoors where they may not have access to sinks, clean water, refrigeration, clean kitchen implements or fresh surfaces on which to prepare food.
For more information, or to speak with a food security spokesperson, you can contact our Media Relations office at (613) 228-6682.