This post was made possible through the support of Element Associates. All opinions are my own.

#FoodSafe4th

Join our Twitter Party on June 30th at 1 PM EST using hashtag #FoodSafe4th. Hosts include: @martieparty @buzzmommy @usdafoodsafety

The 4th of July is upon us and the grills are being prepped, the parties are being planned and the decorations are being bought. It is a fun holiday with great food, friends and fun! But one thing we all need to be more careful of is our food safety. We need to make sure we are cooking it thoroughly, storing it outside and that we are not feeding spoiled items to our guests! Come to the #FoodSafe4th Twitter Party 6/30/2014 at 1pm EST (12 CST) and learn all about how to keep your food safe.

USDA Food Safelty #FoodSafe4th

 

Food poisoning is not simply an upset stomach; it is a serious public health threat in America. In fact, the CDC estimates that about 1 in 6 Americans (about 48 million people) could suffer from foodborne illness this year. The result is approximately 128,000 hospitalizations and sadly, an estimated 3,000 deaths!

Because warm weather events often present an opportunity for bacteria to thrive and high temperatures cause bacteria to multiply more rapidly, the summer months typically see a spike in reports of foodborne illness and outbreaks.  Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of families are not using a food thermometer regularly to check the temperature of meat and poultry and one-third (33 percent) are not using different or freshly cleaned cutting boards to prevent cross-contamination between different food products (such as raw meat and produce). See the ideal Food Cooking Temps for your food!

See the video below:

Many people assume that if a hamburger is brown in the middle, it is done. However, looking at the color and texture of food is not enough— you have to use a food thermometer to be sure!

Need hamburger help?   Check out the article on Is It Done Yet?

According to USDA research, 1 out of every 4 hamburgers turns brown before it reaches a safe internal temperature.

Meat and poultry should be cooked to a safe temperature to destroy harmful bacteria that may be present. Color of meat and poultry is not a good indicator of safety. Use a food thermometer to make sure meats have reached a safe minimum internal temperature.

When a hamburger is cooked to 160 F, it is both safe and delicious!