Talking Turkey - Food Safety

Grace Cataldo grew up in Las Cruces New Mexico, and graduated with a degree in Home Economics.  She married Gary Cataldo the semester before they graduated.  Gary was in Army ROTC and was commissioned a Lieutenant that began his 26 year career.  Grace was a devoted Army wife and managed all the 12 moves to the posts he was sent to.  Raising their two sons was the focus of her time.  She defines herself as a professional volunteer, holding various positions on various charities at every post they were at and continued after he retired.  She was a WIC nutritionist for 3 years when Gary was stationed in El Paso.  While stationed in Washington DC she worked at the USDA Meat nd Poultry Hotline for 4 years. She answered questions about the safety of meat and poultry.   November was the busiest for answering questions, as people had numerous questions about handling and preparing turkeys and other meats and foods.  It was strictly a food safety hotline so they don't give recipes, etc. just how to handle, store, defrost, and cook in all the methods safely to prevent foodborne illness.  That was in the early 1990's just as the internet was revving up, and so many changes were happening.  Grace's best achievement was convincing the Hotline they needed to have all the information in Spanish and a Spanish speaker on the Hotline and it happened.  In 1995 she and Gary moved to Austin to be close to their grandkids.