National Poison Prevention Week

You know to store harsh chemicals and medications safely; clearly labeled and in a difficult-to-reach spot, so they are never confused with harmless products. But many people ignore the fact that items in your fridge and pantry can become poison over time.

About 48 million people eat contaminated food every year, and about 128,000 are hospitalized with severe gastric distress including diarrhea, high fever and vomiting.

Prevent food poisoning by following these simple guidelines:

• Refrigerated leftovers, previously cooked food, should be eaten within 3-4 days. Leftovers can be frozen for up to 4 months.

• Deli meat, freshly sliced, lasts about 3-5 days in your refrigerator.

• Eat or freeze meat by the use-by date.

• An open jar of peanut butter should be used within 3 months. As with all condiments in jars or bottles, use a clean spoon to take out what you need and then use a knife to spread it, so you don't contaminate the whole container.

• Berries should be eaten within 3-5 days of purchase.

• Milk, cream and soft cheeses should be consumed within a week of opening. It is never safe to eat raw, unpasteurized milk or dairy products.

• Shredded cheese should be used within 2-4 days of opening.

• Throw out any cans or jars that are swollen, dented or have rust. Discard tomatoes and pineapples that are one year or more past their expiration, and toss all other canned or jarred foods that are five years or more past their expiration.