<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://fightbac.org/nfsem/" target="_blank"><em>National Food Safety Education Month</em></a><em> is an opportunity to embrace safe food handling through simple steps including clean, separate, cook, and chill to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.</em></p><p>By Ashley Eisenbeiser, Vice President, Food and Product Safety Programs, FMI</p><p><img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/collective-day-of-action-badge.tmb-large-350-.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=707f5140_1" style="float:right;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:10px;" alt="A FightBAC.org blue circular logo that says collective day of action" class="-align-right" sf-size="33399" />is more than an annual event—it’s an ongoing call to action for every American to embrace safe food handling at home, at work, during holidays, at school, and when dining out. Nearly 1 in 6 Americans are affected by foodborne disease each year. This is a staggering statistic, and underscores why food safety matters each and every day.</p><p>Whether you’re a home cook, young adult, caregiver, or simply someone looking to prevent foodborne illnesses, following a few simple steps when preparing food– Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill—are essential to protecting the health of those we love and reducing the risk of foodborne illness.</p><p>Here are some simple steps to prevent foodborne illness in the home.</p><ul><li><a href="https://fightbac.org/food-safety-basics/the-core-four-practices/#clean" target="_blank">Wash your hands</a> often with soap and water </li><li>Keep raw meat <a href="https://fightbac.org/food-safety-basics/the-core-four-practices/#separate" target="_blank">separate</a> from ready-to-eat foods like fresh fruit and vegetables </li><li>Use a food thermometer to make sure food is <a href="https://fightbac.org/food-safety-basics/the-core-four-practices/#cook" target="_blank">cooked to a safe internal temperature</a>. </li><li><a href="https://fightbac.org/food-safety-basics/the-core-four-practices/#chill" target="_blank">Refrigerate or freeze</a> foods quickly. </li><li>Prepare <a href="https://www.fmi.org/family-meals" target="_blank">family meals</a> with recipes that follow the <a href="https://saferecipeguide.org/" target="_blank">Safe Recipe Style Guide</a></li></ul><p>Everyday actions–from handwashing to proper cooking temperatures—matter. Because food safety behavior isn’t seasonal—it’s essential. </p><p><a href="https://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2022/12/14/celebrating-25-years-of-consumer-food-safety-education">As a founding partner</a> of the Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE), FMI is committed to bringing awareness to safe food practices that help to reduce the risk of food poisoning. PFSE serves as a collaborative hub and trusted resource for consumer food safety educators, uniting voices across public health, retail, academia, and regulatory sectors.</p><p>Additional information and resources to support the collective effort of changing food safety behaviors that have a lasting impact are available through <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/" target="_blank">The Partnership for Food Safety Education</a>.</p>
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