MONROE - The Unviersity of Wisconsin-Extension office is offering a few simple tips to remember while donating food and other items this time of year.
"It's important to remember that donated food is most helpful if it is both safe and high quality," according to Barbara Ingham, food science specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Extension.
Make sure to check the dates on packages of foods that to be donated, Ingham said. Many packaged items are marked with dates that indicate freshness. Some examples include:
n Quality or pack dates often designated on packages by the words "Better if used by..." and a date. Look for these dates on packaged mixes, cold cereals, peanut butter, and increasingly, on canned items like fruits and vegetables. These dates mean that after the quality date, the food will begin to lose its flavor and may even develop an off flavor. Quality dates are an estimate of how long foods will remain at their peak quality. Donate only foods that are well within the quality dates marked on the package.
n Expiration dates, such as "Expires 2/15/12_ or "Do not use after 7/9/11," will appear on items such as vitamins, yeast, baking powder and cake mixes. Do not donate foods that are past their expiration date.
n Pull dates, such as "sell by May 16," will appear on items such as perishable, refrigerated foods such as milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, cream, eggs, lunch meat and packaged salad mixes. Perishable foods, with the exception of garden produce, are usually not included in a food drive. If they are, choose foods that are well within the pull date for best quality.
Also check the integrity of the package. To ensure that the food has not been contaminated, donate only foods from unopened packages. Avoid foods with packaging that shows signs of leakage or damage. Ingham said she urges consumers not to donate canned items that have broken seams or large dents.
Food pantries often welcome donations of fresh produce. However, home-canned foods, meat or eggs that have not been handled by licensed food processors should not be donated.
"If you have a question about a proposed donation, contact the food pantry. Staff there will be happy to discuss whether they can accept or store the donation that you have in mind," Ingham said.
Consumers are encouraged to donate foods that have a stable shelf life, are full of nutrients and easy to prepare. Good examples of foods to consider are:
n Whole grain, low-sugar cereals such as plain instant oatmeal, whole grain Os, and bran flakes.
n Whole grain or enriched pasta and instant rice - either brown or enriched. Boxed noodle and rice dishes can be an easy starting point for a one-dish meal.
n Whole grain crackers (especially reduced-sodium) and popcorn.
n Canned vegetables, especially those without added salt.
n Fruits canned in juice, unsweetened applesauce, 100-percent fruit juice and dried fruit such as raisins or craisins.
n Spaghetti sauce, salsa and canned beans, including baked beans.
n Canned meats. Food pantries tend to receive a lot of canned salmon or tuna, so consider other meats such as canned chicken, ham or beef. Do not donate meat canned at home.
n Peanuts and peanut butter.
n Reduced-sodium broth and soups.
n Low-fat salad dressings or spreads, and condiments such as ketchup or mustard.
n Baby food is a welcome donation. Just be sure to donate well within the date marked on the containers.
"Right now, our food pantries are facing shortages of some kinds of foods, and are not receiving as much from their major suppliers," said Bridget Mouchon, Family Living Educator at Green County UW-Extension. "They need our help, as more families are using food pantries than ever. Please remember to donate."
There are two kinds of donations: money and food. Making a financial donation allows a pantry to purchase food from the Second Harvest Food Bank for $.18 per pound of food. Making donations of nonperishable foods or uncut garden produce helps people directly, and also helps the pantry receive more from the USDA, as the poundage of local donations is matched by the USDA, Mouchon said.
"When families can get food from food pantries, this allows them to keep more of their incomes to pay for their rent or mortgage," Mouchon said. "It can help your elderly neighbor pay for needed medications. Families manage their resources the best they can, and this is one way to make a huge difference, not only feeding people, but helping them to stay in their homes and stay afloat in difficult economic times."
More information is available by calling Mouchon at (608) 328-9440.
"It's important to remember that donated food is most helpful if it is both safe and high quality," according to Barbara Ingham, food science specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Extension.
Make sure to check the dates on packages of foods that to be donated, Ingham said. Many packaged items are marked with dates that indicate freshness. Some examples include:
n Quality or pack dates often designated on packages by the words "Better if used by..." and a date. Look for these dates on packaged mixes, cold cereals, peanut butter, and increasingly, on canned items like fruits and vegetables. These dates mean that after the quality date, the food will begin to lose its flavor and may even develop an off flavor. Quality dates are an estimate of how long foods will remain at their peak quality. Donate only foods that are well within the quality dates marked on the package.
n Expiration dates, such as "Expires 2/15/12_ or "Do not use after 7/9/11," will appear on items such as vitamins, yeast, baking powder and cake mixes. Do not donate foods that are past their expiration date.
n Pull dates, such as "sell by May 16," will appear on items such as perishable, refrigerated foods such as milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, cream, eggs, lunch meat and packaged salad mixes. Perishable foods, with the exception of garden produce, are usually not included in a food drive. If they are, choose foods that are well within the pull date for best quality.
Also check the integrity of the package. To ensure that the food has not been contaminated, donate only foods from unopened packages. Avoid foods with packaging that shows signs of leakage or damage. Ingham said she urges consumers not to donate canned items that have broken seams or large dents.
Food pantries often welcome donations of fresh produce. However, home-canned foods, meat or eggs that have not been handled by licensed food processors should not be donated.
"If you have a question about a proposed donation, contact the food pantry. Staff there will be happy to discuss whether they can accept or store the donation that you have in mind," Ingham said.
Consumers are encouraged to donate foods that have a stable shelf life, are full of nutrients and easy to prepare. Good examples of foods to consider are:
n Whole grain, low-sugar cereals such as plain instant oatmeal, whole grain Os, and bran flakes.
n Whole grain or enriched pasta and instant rice - either brown or enriched. Boxed noodle and rice dishes can be an easy starting point for a one-dish meal.
n Whole grain crackers (especially reduced-sodium) and popcorn.
n Canned vegetables, especially those without added salt.
n Fruits canned in juice, unsweetened applesauce, 100-percent fruit juice and dried fruit such as raisins or craisins.
n Spaghetti sauce, salsa and canned beans, including baked beans.
n Canned meats. Food pantries tend to receive a lot of canned salmon or tuna, so consider other meats such as canned chicken, ham or beef. Do not donate meat canned at home.
n Peanuts and peanut butter.
n Reduced-sodium broth and soups.
n Low-fat salad dressings or spreads, and condiments such as ketchup or mustard.
n Baby food is a welcome donation. Just be sure to donate well within the date marked on the containers.
"Right now, our food pantries are facing shortages of some kinds of foods, and are not receiving as much from their major suppliers," said Bridget Mouchon, Family Living Educator at Green County UW-Extension. "They need our help, as more families are using food pantries than ever. Please remember to donate."
There are two kinds of donations: money and food. Making a financial donation allows a pantry to purchase food from the Second Harvest Food Bank for $.18 per pound of food. Making donations of nonperishable foods or uncut garden produce helps people directly, and also helps the pantry receive more from the USDA, as the poundage of local donations is matched by the USDA, Mouchon said.
"When families can get food from food pantries, this allows them to keep more of their incomes to pay for their rent or mortgage," Mouchon said. "It can help your elderly neighbor pay for needed medications. Families manage their resources the best they can, and this is one way to make a huge difference, not only feeding people, but helping them to stay in their homes and stay afloat in difficult economic times."
More information is available by calling Mouchon at (608) 328-9440.
