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Keeping raw meat, poultry and seafood separate from other foods will avoid cross contamination, which occurs when bacteria spreads from one surface to another. Although a majority of American adults (78%) have seen or heard messages telling them to keep fresh fruits and vegetables separate from raw meat, poultry and seafood when shopping and to use one cutting board for raw meats and poultry and a separate one for produce (71%), only half of the consumers surveyed always follow these recommendations.

2004 OCT 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Partnership for Food Safety Education, creator of the Fight BAC! campaign, released a report detailing American's food safety behaviors.

The findings of a national consumer study of nearly 5000 adults - one of the largest food safety compliance studies ever conducted - shows that, despite the fact that a majority of consumers know that following safe food handling practices is important (92%) and foodborne illness represents a serious health threat (75%), they are not consistently handling food safely.

The data emphasizes two critical needs: 1) ongoing education, reminding consumers about the importance of consistent safe food handling and 2) calling consumers to take consistent action.

"Proper food handling has been shown to reduce the incidence of foodborne illness, but consumers need to remember the Partnership's 'clean, cook, chill and separate' messages each and every time they handle food," says Tim Hammonds, chairman of the Partnership for Food Safety Education and president and CEO of the Food Marketing Institute.

Hammonds continued, "Our findings indicate that consumers know these core recommendations, but in many cases more than half of the adults surveyed, many of whom are the primary household food preparers, indicate they do not always follow them. As the high message awareness levels demonstrate, great progress has been made educating people about how to safely handle food. With ongoing education we can make dramatic progress getting people to do what they already know is right for their families," he continued.

Consumer responses related to hand washing and kitchen cleaning clearly show a need for improvement. While 74% have heard they should wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before handling raw meat and poultry, only half (53%) of those surveyed indicate they always do so. Ninety-four percent of Americans have heard about the importance of thoroughly cleaning cutting boards, utensils and surfaces prior to use, yet only two-thirds of those surveyed consistently clean as recommended.

Cooking foods thoroughly and refrigerating them properly are critical to eliminate foodborne illness, however the research suggests consumers are vulnerable based on current behaviors. Using a food thermometer is the only sure way to confirm that foods reach proper temperatures and although most consumers (78%) have heard this before, less than one-third (31%) always do so.

Similarly, most (89%) have heard messages about how to defrost foods properly (in the refrigerator, cold water or in the microwave), but only half (53%) always defrost as recommended. Less than half are refrigerating foods within two hours or discarding perishable foods left at room temperature for more than two hours as advised.

Keeping raw meat, poultry and seafood separate from other foods will avoid cross contamination, which occurs when bacteria spreads from one surface to another. Although a majority of American adults (78%) have seen or heard messages telling them to keep fresh fruits and vegetables separate from raw meat, poultry and seafood when shopping and to use one cutting board for raw meats and poultry and a separate one for produce (71%), only half of the consumers surveyed always follow these recommendations.

"Fruits and vegetables are a very important part of a healthy diet, and health and nutrition experts agree we should all be eating them more often," says Mildred Cody, PhD, RD, Georgia State University and partnership board member. "However, as more fruits and vegetables are consumed, it becomes increasingly important to remind people about the need to consistently clean them properly."

While most (61%) always wash fresh fruits and vegetables under cool running tap water, only half (51%) consistently wash their produce just prior to eating as recommended. Few (26%) always scrub firm produce (e.g. melons) with a produce brush. Consistently washing hands before and after handling fresh fruits and vegetables is low (40%, 36%) and only 44% report they always refrigerate fresh produce within two hours of cutting or peeling.

The research findings are consistent with data released by several of the agencies that work closely with the Partnership including the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Repeatedly, the finding indicates that while consumers practice safe food handling, they are not consistent.

"Reducing foodborne illness is a challenge that requires a commitment from everyone from farm to table, including consumers," says Tim Hammonds. Once the food is in consumers' homes, it is important that it is handled properly all of the time to combat harmful bacteria. Thanks to the Fight BAC! campaign, consumers, public health officials and educators have all the tools they need at their fingertips to improve their safe food handling practices; all they need to do is go to fightbac.org."

The Partnership's Web site has been enhanced to facilitate increased food safety education, creating a repository of food safety research information and an informational News and Tools BAC! Fighters section featuring regularly updated Fight BAC! educational materials. In addition, the Partnership is developing new tools and resources to continue educating people about the importance of consistently handling food properly.

In collaboration with the Produce Marketing Association and the FDA, the Partnership is developing specific recommendations for handling fresh fruits and vegetables to be released later this fall. In addition the Partnership, in cooperation with NSF International, is launching the Scrub Club, a program for young people that emphasizes the importance of proper and frequent hand washing as a critical step to maintain good health. All of these new resources will also be available through fightbac.org.

The Partnership for Food Safety Education unites industry associations, consumer and public health groups and the United States Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, to educate the public about safe food handling and preparation.

The Partnership, a non-profit organization, is the creator and steward of the Fight BAC! campaign, a food safety education program developed using scientifically based recommendations and resulting from an extensive consumer research process.

This article was prepared by Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2004, Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net.