Every year, foodborne illness, often called food poisoning, sickens millions of people in the United States. Most cases are never reported, largely because people mistake their symptoms for the flu or another common illness and don't recognize what foodborne illness looks like.
How can I lower my risk?
These steps will help keep the food in your home safe:
- Check quality. Look food over before you buy it, and skip anything that seems to be in poor condition. To report a labeling problem at a Fredville business, call (555) 010-1261.
- Clean. Wash your hands and work surfaces frequently.
- Separate. Avoid cross-contamination, which is how bacteria move from one food to another. Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs, along with their juices, away from foods that are ready to eat.
- Cook. Food is safe once its internal temperature climbs high enough to destroy the bacteria that make people sick.
- Chill. Refrigerate food promptly, since cold slows the growth of bacteria. Keeping your refrigerator steady at 40°F or colder is one of the best ways to prevent foodborne illness, and an appliance thermometer can confirm it stays there. Set the freezer to 0°F or colder.
Should I report a foodborne illness?
Yes, if the food that made you sick came from a restaurant or another commercial source. Describe what happened briefly but with as much detail as you can, and if possible list everything you ate in the 72 hours before you got sick.
If a packaged commercial product was involved, keep it on hand so you can describe it. To report a suspected foodborne illness linked to a Fredville business, call (555) 010-1261.
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