The coalition of health organizations is asking consumers to join industry, educators and government in fighting food born illnesses by completing the food safety chain. The coalition points out there are numerous food safety regulations currently in place to protect our food as it moves from the farm to the supermarket or restaurant. But once the food leaves the store, it is up to consumers to continue to handle and cook food properly to guard against illness. Anderson says the major contributors to foodborne illnesses is cross contamination of foods and not storing and cooking foods at the correct temperature. The coalition says that the public is an often missed link in the food safety chain.
Processors provide food safety information to consumers, restaurants and the food industry.
Only 34 per cent of washing were with soap. 70 per cent of subjects attempted to clean preparation surfaces, but most of the attempts were inadequate. Vegetable washing was inadequate. Hands were the most common agent of cross contamination. Use of cloth towels leads to repeated cross contamination.