The U.S. Department of Agriculture is encouraging families and individuals to be safe during their summer vacations and have issued a news release that prioritizes the value of proper handwashing during the practice of safe food handling.
The USDA said its recent research demonstrates not only are people attempting to wash their hands less often than previously, but also fail to do so well and are not following the department's five-step technique.
“Our research shows that participants were not adequately washing their hands or using a food thermometer,” the news release said.
“Summer is a time to relax and enjoy delicious meals with friends and family, but food-borne pathogens never rest," said Deputy Undersecretary for Food Safety Sandra Eskin. "Following safe food-handling practices during this and all other seasons can reduce the risk of getting sick.”
Additionally, the news release encourages people to make use of food thermometers to prevent food-borne bacteria from infecting people. The release talks about cross-contamination as a significant source of food-borne illness that people often ignore.
