Tips for choosing safe seafood:
- Don't buy cooked seafood, such as shrimp, crabs or smoked fish, if displayed in the same case as raw fish.
Cross-contamination can occur. Or, at least, make sure the raw fish is on a level lower than the cooked fish so that the raw
fish juices don't flow onto the cooked items and contaminate them.
- Don't buy frozen seafood if the packages are open, torn or crushed on the edges. Avoid packages that are above the frost
line in the store's freezer. If the package cover is transparent, look for signs of frost or ice crystals. This could mean
that the fish has either been stored for a long time or thawed and refrozen.
- Recreational fishers who plan to eat their catch should follow state and local government advisories about fishing areas
and eating fish from certain areas.
- As with meat and poultry, if seafood will be used within two days after purchase, store it in the coldest part of the
refrigerator, usually under the freezer compartment or in a special "meat keeper." Avoid packing it in tightly with other
items; allow air to circulate freely around the package. Otherwise, wrap the food tightly in moisture-proof freezer paper or
foil to protect it from air leaks and store in the freezer.
- Discard shellfish, such as lobsters, crabs, oysters, clams, and mussels, if they die during storage or if their shells
crack or break. Live shellfish close up when the shell is tapped.
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