The United States has one of the safest food supplies in the world, but preventing foodborne illness is still a major public health challenge.
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. Refrigerate foods that require it promptly. If have any kind of skin abrasion or infection on your hands, always be sure to use clean disposable gloves. All surfaces that come in contact with raw meat, poultry, fish, and eggs should be thoroughly washed with hot, soapy water before moving on to the next step in food preparation.