Evenings News.com
Community News and Information
Submit a Story
Search

News Categories  
 
 Auto and Truck
 
 Babies
 
 Back To School
 
 Beauty
 
 Books and Magazines
 
 Bridal Articles and News
 
 Business News
 
 Charity
 
 Children
 
 Cleaning
 
 Community News
 
 Computers and The Internet
 
 Consumer News
 
 Decorating
 
 Education
 
 Employment
 
 Entertainment
 
 Environment
 
 Family
 
 Fashion News
 
 Food and Entertaining
 Crock Pot Menus
 
 Gadgets and Gizmos
 
 Green Living
 
 Gift Ideas
 
 Health
 
 Healthy Living
 
 Holidays
 
 Home
 
 Home Improvements
 
 Household Hints
 
 How To
 
 Human Interest
 
 Insurance
 
 Lawns and Gardens
 
 Mind, Body and Soul
 
 Outdoor Living and Recreation
 
 Paranormal and Metaphysical
 
 Parenting
 
 Pets
 
 Real Estate
 
 Relationships
 
 Science and Technology
 
 Senior Living
 
 Technology
 
 Teenagers
 
 Toys and Hobbies
 
 Vacations, Travel and Leisure
 
 Weight Loss
 
 Women
 
 Artículos de las Noticias en Español

Food and Entertaining Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22


Preventing Food-borne Illness
By
Jun 2, 2007, 20:36

RSS Feed
Email this article
 Printer friendly page

Article Translations: English German Spanish French Italian Portuguese Japanese Korean Chinese
(NAPSI)-Grilling season is upon us. Thousands of Americans will enjoy the juicy, tasty creations of backyard cooks this summer. Many of these weekend chefs will worry about overcooking or charring their food. But what is more important is for these cooks to know about the dangers of foodborne illness and learning how they can prevent it.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food-borne illness is a serious public health issue. According to figures from the CDC, 5,000 people die every year due to some type of food-borne illness-that is almost 14 people every day.

"Bacteria grow more quickly in warmer temperatures and that is why we see an increase in foodborne illnesses every summer," said Dr. Richard Raymond, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's highest-ranking food safety official.

Everyone should learn the four simple lessons of food safety-clean, separate, cook and chill. These are the messages of USDA's Be Food Safe campaign and they will help people prevent food-borne illnesses.

Clean-Hand washing is one of the simplest ways to help reduce the threat of food-borne illness. Research has shown that you need to wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds to ensure they are clean enough to handle foods. Also be sure to clean surfaces and utensils.

Separate-A common mistake people make is serving cooked food on the same plate that was used to transport the raw meat or poultry from the kitchen to the grill. Cross-contamination can also occur when vegetables or other uncooked foods come into contact with cutting boards, plates and utensils that were used for raw meat and poultry products. Try using different-colored cutting boards for vegetables and for raw meat.

Cook-Meat and poultry must be cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature in order to destroy the bacteria that may be present in the foods. Doing so requires the use of a food thermometer; you simply cannot tell if food is safely cooked by looking at it. For hamburgers, the thermometer should show a safe minimum internal temperature of 160°F. For poultry, the safe minimum internal temperature is 165°F.

Chill-Play it safe by putting leftovers and perishable foods back on ice or in the refrigerator after eating-within one hour during the warm summer months. Don't send leftovers home with the guests unless this food is transported in a cooler with ice and immediately chilled. These foods can reach the "Danger Zone" (40°F to 140°F), where bacteria can grow and multiply if not properly chilled. Also, cold foods need to be kept cold (40°F or lower). Use coolers and ice to maintain these temperatures.

You can get your food safety questions answered 24/7 by logging on to www.askkaren.gov. If you have a food safety question, you can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at (888) MPHotline.

© Copyright by Eveningsnews.com

Top of Page

Food and Entertaining
Latest Headlines
Tasting Tuscany A Lesson In Italian Cuisine
Sustainable Practices: Do your foods uphold your commitment to the planet?
Keeping Your Family On The Right Track When It Comes To Snacks
Antioxidant-Rich Super Spices Offer New Reasons To Season
The Ice Cream Taste Is Premium, The Price Is Not
Upgrade Your Grilling Experience
Quick And Nutritious Breakfast Tips For Warm-Weather Mornings
Most Americans Prefer Dining At Home, But Lack Cooking Skills
The Po’Boy Sandwich Is Rich In History
Complex Carbs: A Simple Way To Satisfy
Mangos: Just Desserts For Lovebirds
10 Ways To Snack With Cereal
Make 2008 the Year of Healthy Snacking
One Fish, Two Fish ... 'Green Fish,' Good Fish
Warm Up With Homemade Comfort Foods
Homemade Pot Pies Add Warmth To Winter
Celebrity Chef Offers Tips To Get More Citrus In Your Diet
The Healthy Crepe Craze
"Berry Nut-ritious" Muffins
B. Smith Knows Small Changes Can Have A Big Effect On Managing Diabetes Successfully