Cleanliness Helps Prevent Foodborne Illness

Spring has long been the time of year for annual spring cleaning projects around our homes. However, when it comes to safe food handling, everything that comes in contact with food must be kept clean all year long.

Food that is mishandled can lead to foodborne illness. While the United States has one of the safest food supplies in the world, preventing foodborne illness remains a major public health challenge. In 1997, the Partnership for Food Safety Education -- a public-private partnership of industry, government, and consumer groups -- was formed to educate the public about safe food handling to help reduce foodborne illness. The Partnership developed the Fight BAC!ä public education program in conjunction with the President’s National Food Safety Initiative. The campaign stresses four critical food safety principles:

Clean: Wash hands and surfaces often;

Separate: Don’t cross-contaminate;

Cook: Cook to proper temperatures;

Chill: Refrigerate promptly.

Cleanliness is a major factor in preventing foodborne illness. Even with food safety inspection and monitoring at Federal, State, and local government facilities, the consumer’s role is to make sure food is handled safely after it is purchased. Everything that touches food should be clean. Listed below are steps we can take to help prevent foodborne illness by safely handling food in the home:

Always wash hands with hot, soapy water

before handling food;

after handling food;

after using the bathroom;

after changing a diaper;

after tending to a sick person;

after blowing nose, coughing, or sneezing; and

after handling pets.

If your hands have any kind of skin abrasion or infection, always use clean disposable gloves. Wash hands (gloved or not) with hot, soapy water.
Thoroughly wash with hot, soapy water all surfaces that come in contact with raw meat, poultry, fish, and eggs before moving on to the next step in food preparation. Consider using paper towels to clean kitchen surfaces. If you use dishcloths, wash them often in the hot cycle of your washing machine. Keep other surfaces, such as faucets and counter tops, clean by washing with hot, soapy water.
To keep cutting boards clean, wash them in hot, soapy water after each use; then rinse and air or pat dry with fresh paper towels. Cutting boards can be sanitized with a solution of one teaspoon liquid chlorine bleach per quart of water. Flood the surface with the bleach solution and allow it to stand for several minutes; then rinse and air or pat dry with fresh paper towels.

Non-porous acrylic, plastic, glass, and solid wood boards can be washed in a dishwasher (laminated boards may crack and split). Even plastic boards wear out over time. Once cutting boards become excessively worn or develop hard-to-clean grooves, replace them.
Don’t use the same platter and utensils that held the raw product to serve the cooked product. Any bacteria present in the raw meat or juices can contaminate the safely cooked product. Serve cooked products on clean plates, using clean utensils and clean hands.
When using a food thermometer, it is important to wash the probe after each use with hot, soapy water before reinserting it into a food.
Keep the refrigerator clean by wiping up spills immediately. Clean surfaces thoroughly with hot, soapy water and rinse. Once a week, make it a habit to throw out perishable foods that should no longer be eaten.
Keep pets, household cleaners, and other chemicals away from food and surfaces used for food.
When picnicking or cooking outdoors, take plenty of clean utensils. Pack clean, dry, and wet and soapy cloths for cleaning surfaces and hands.

Because bacteria are everywhere, cleanliness is a major factor in preventing foodborne illness. By keeping everything clean that comes in contact with food, consumers can be assured they are helping to do their part to Fight BAC!™

For additional food safety information about meat, poultry, or egg products, call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854); for the hearing-impaired (TTY) 1-800-256-7072. The Hotline is staffed by food safety experts weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time. Food safety recordings can be heard 24 hours a day using a touch-tone phone.

The media may contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at (301) 504-6258.

Information is also available from the FSIS Web site: http://www.fsis.usda.gov

The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

For Further Information Contact:
FSIS Food Safety Education Staff
Meat and Poultry Hotline:

1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) - Tollfree Nationwide
1-800-256-7072 (TDD/TTY)
E-mail: mphotline.fsis@usda.gov

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