JUNEAU – For safety’s sake, gauges on all pressure canners should be tested at least once a year to ensure proper pressure during the canning process. Jars not cooked at the recommended pressure may allow bacteria called Clostridium botulinum to survive and grow inside a sealed jar of food producing a poisonous toxin. Even a small taste of food containing this toxin can be fatal. One way to prevent food spoilage is to make certain that the gauge of the pressure canner is accurate when home canning.
The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) Health Promotion team on POW is holding their annual “Putting up POW Grub” on Saturday, June 17, from 10am-1pm at the Klawock Clan House. All Prince of Wales Island community members are invited to bring their pressure gauges for testing.
During the event, there will be free food preservation information from the Alaska Cooperative Extension, recipes from the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and taste testing delicious recipes made with local foods, and even great door prizes.
Those that cannot attend the event on June 17 can drop their gauge at the Alicia Roberts Medical Center. Gauges should be labeled “Attention: June May” and have your name and telephone number clearly written and securely attached to the gauge so someone can contact you when it is ready for pickup.
For more information about the event or having your gauge tested, please call June May at 755-4959.