March 2020

Is takeout safe? FST's Erin DiCaprio shares how to stay healthy and support local restaurants

UC Davis Food Science and Technology's Erin DiCaprio shares her knowledge of viruses and community food safety regarding the coronavirus pandemic's impact on takeout food safety, in an article for Sactown Magazine, on March 26, 2020.  Way to "deliver" the message, Erin!  

Article by Curtis Yee:  http://www.sactownmag.com/Whats-Cooking/2020/takeout-safety-Q&A 

Safe Transfer of High-Proof Ethanol Using Pumps

High-proof (e.g. 70%) ethanol can be an effective sanitizing agent against the coronavirus causing COVID-19.  Spraying of small winery surfaces or equipment for sanitization with this solution is not problematic, especially in a well-ventilated area.  However, pumping high proof ethanol (for the purpose of creating sanitizing solution or sanitizing large pieces of equipment) using a normal winery pump could be hugely dangerous (explosion hazard) and should be avoided

The Phaff Yeast Culture Collection on "After Dark" Series

The Phaff Yeast Culture Collection will be part of the weekly Thursday evening “After Dark” series at the Exploratorium this Thursday March 12, from 6:00 to 10:00 PM. Visitors can learn how we use yeast to make many different fermented foods and beverages, view microbes from some foods and beverages under the microscope, see and smell different species of yeast, and learn about the current research going on at the Phaff Yeast Culture Collection.