Attention charities and farmers: Please review the holiday schedule for the store(s) you pick up donations from. Details have been emailed to you.
Attention charities and farmers: Please review the holiday schedule for the store(s) you pick up donations from. Details have been emailed to you.
 

World Food Safety Day

World Food Safety Day

We all play a critical role in ensuring that food stays safe at every stage of the food chain – from production to harvest, processing, storage, distribution, all the way to preparation and consumption.

Food safety standards are also critical to the successful exchange of surplus food. For World Food Safety Day 2021, we would like to share some resources to help you keep your food safe.

Cheese plate

Safe fridge and freezer storage periods

The following recommended refrigeration times are for safety, and the freezing times are for quality.

Source: The Government of Canada

Food

Fridge

Freezer

Fresh meat

Beef 2-4 days 10 – 12 months
Pork 2-4 days 8 – 12 months
Lamb 2-4 days 8 – 12 months
Veal 3-4 days 8 – 12 months
Ground meat 1-2 days 2 – 3 months

Fresh poultry

Chicken/Turkey – whole 2-3 days 1 year
Chicken/Turkey – pieces 2-3 days 6 months

Fresh fish

Lean fish – cod, flounder etc. 3-4 days 6 months
Fatty fish – salmon etc. 3-4 days 2 months
Shellfish – clams, crab, lobster etc. 12-24 hours 2-4 months
Scallops, shrimp, cooked shellfish 1-2 days 2-4 months

Ham

Canned ham 6-9 months Don’t freeze
Cooked ham 3-4 days 2-3 months

Bacon and sausages

Bacon 1 week 1 month
Raw sausage 1-2 days 1-2 months
Pre-cooked sausage links or patties 1 week 1-2 months

Hot dogs

Un-opened hotdogs 2 weeks 1-2 months
Opened hotdogs 1 week 1-2 months

Lunch meat and deli food

Un-opened lunch meat 2 weeks 1-2 months
Opened lunch meat 3-5 days 1-2 months
Deli packaged lunch meat 3-4 days 2-3 months
Deli or homemade salads 3-5 days Don’t freeze

Leftovers

Cooked meat, stews, egg or vegetable dishes 3-4 days 2-3 months
Cooked poultry and fish 3-4 days 4-6 months
Meat broth and gravy 3-4 days 4-6 months
Soups 2-3 days 4 months

Frozen dinners

Keep frozen until ready to cook 3-4 months

Eggs

Fresh in shell 3-4 weeks Don’t freeze
Fresh out of shell 2-4 days 4 months
Hard-cooked 1 week Doesn’t freeze well
Egg substitutes un-opened 10 days 1 year
Egg substitutes opened 3 days Don’t freeze

Dairy products

Un-opened milk Best before date 6 weeks
Opened milk 3 days Don’t freeze
Un-opened cottage cheese Best before date Doesn’t freeze well
Opened cottage cheese 3 days Don’t freeze
Un-opened yogurt Best before date 1-2 months
Opened yogurt 3 days Don’t freeze
Soft cheese 1 week Doesn’t freeze well
Semi-soft cheese 2-3 weeks 8 weeks
Firm cheese 5 weeks 3 months
Hard cheese 10 months 1 year
Processed cheese 5 months 3 months
Un-opened salted butter 8 weeks 1 year
Un-opened unsalted butter 8 weeks 3 months
Opened butter 3 weeks Don’t freeze

Vegetables

Beans green or waxed 5 days 8 months
Carrots 2 weeks 10-12 months
Celery 2 weeks 10-12 months
Leaf lettuce 3-7 days Don’t freeze
Iceberg lettuce 1-2 weeks Don’t freeze
Spinach 2-4 weeks 10-12 months
Summer squash 1 week 10-12 months
Winter squash 2 weeks 10-12 months
Tomatoes Don’t refrigerate 2 months

With an estimated 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses annually, unsafe food is a threat to human health and economies, disproportionally affecting vulnerable and marginalized people, especially women and children, populations affected by conflict, and migrants.

– United Nations