Organizations Partner to Raise Consumer Awareness About Proper Cooking of Pre-Prepared Foods

In September, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) partnered with the FDA, International Food Information Council (IFIC), Partnership for Food Safety Education, and organizations representing the frozen food and home appliance industries to raise awareness about the need to follow package instructions to fully cook pre-prepared foods and prevent foodborne illness.

"Frozen or refrigerated convenience foods are popular items in many Americans' homes, but there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to cooking these foods," said FSIS Administrator Al Almanza. "Some of them can be microwaved, but others can't. The 'Cook It Safe' campaign is designed to heighten awareness of this problem and correct misconceptions, putting an end to needless, preventable illnesses."

The 2011 IFIC Foundation Food & Health Survey indicated that consumers need to improve their safe food handling practices. Marianne Smith Edge, the foundation's senior vice president of nutrition and food safety, concurs, "With only 61 percent of Americans following all package cooking instructions, and even less using a food thermometer (19 percent), this is a unique opportunity to help educate and inform consumers to 'Cook It Safe.'"

The "Cook It Safe" campaign encourages consumers to read and follow all cooking instructions printed on food packages before preparation, and two public service announcements feature teenagers, a known target group for these types of illnesses. The four basic messages of "Cook It Safe" are:

• Read and follow package cooking instructions.
• Know when to use a microwave or conventional oven.
• Know your microwave wattage before microwaving food.
• Always use a food thermometer to ensure a safe internal temperature.

For more information, visit www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_090111_01/index.asp