America's food is among the safest in the world. But bacteria are everywhere, including on food, like meat, poultry, and egg products. If food isn't handled safely, harmful bacteria can multiply to dangerous levels and make people sick. There are four key safe food handling steps promoted under a national educational campaign by the Partnership for Food Safety Education called Fight BAC!®. These steps include: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill. Cook" is one of the key steps.

One of the critical factors in fighting food-borne illness is temperature. Bacteria grow slowly at low temperatures and multiply rapidly at mid-range temperatures. To be safe, a product must be cooked to an internal temperature high enough to destroy harmful bacteria. Using a thermometer is a reliable way to ensure that food has reached the proper temperature. However, to be effective, the thermometers must be used properly and calibrated correctly.

All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F. (Sources: Kitchen Thermometers; Use a Food Thermometer)

People cannot get bird flu from eating properly handled and cooked food. (See tips below for safe food handling)

Consumer research conducted in 1998 by FSIS and the Food and Drug Administration shows that less than half the population owns a food thermometer. And only 3 percent of the population use a food thermometer when cooking hamburgers. Yes, we think they will. Using a food thermometer has never been easier. There are thermometers that are specifically designed to register temperatures quickly in thin foods like hamburgers or chicken breasts.

Slaughtered meat and poultry should be put under refrigeration (32 - 36°F) immediately to remove animal heat from the carcass. Prompt and thorough chilling is important to reduce bacterial growth and decrease the action of enzymes which can lower the quality. Bone souring in beef and pork may also occur if carcasses are not properly chilled. Chill pork, lamb or veal 24 hours; beef 5 to 7 days.

Use an oven-safe meat thermometer when cooking large pieces of meat, poultry and game to determine if cooked adequately. The thermometer should be inserted into the thickest part of the meat. For accurate temperature reading, the tip of the thermometer should not touch fat layers, bone or gristle, or if using the rotisserie, the spit rod. The chart below will provide you with approximate temperatures for the degree of doness for the different kinds of meats.

There is no evidence that avian influenza can be transmitted through eating poultry or eggs. However, make sure poultry and eggs have been thoroughly cooked.

Do not eat raw eggs or dip cooked food into any sauce containing raw eggs. Eggs should be cooked until the white and yolk become firm. Poultry should be cooked thoroughly. The centre of the poultry should reach 70°C continuously for at least two minutes during cooking. If there are pinkish juices running from the cooked poultry or the middle part of its bone is still red in colour, the poultry should be cooked again until fully done.

Washing raw poultry, beef, pork, lamb, veal, or seafood before cooking is not necessary. Although washing these raw foods may get rid of some of the pathogens on the surface of these foods, it may allow the pathogens to spread around the kitchen. Cooking these foods to a safe internal temperature will destroy any bacteria that may be present in the food. Use a clean food thermometer to make sure food has reached the proper temperature.

Is it safe to eat leftover food that was left out on the counter to cool at dinnertime, then forgotten until morning? Will additional cooking kill the bacteria that may have grown

Yes, eating properly cooked poultry, as well as eggs, is safe. The U.S. government has banned imported poultry from countries affected by bird flu. At the present time, bird flu is not present in the U.S. For protection against many types of food borne diseases, such as Salmonella, all poultry should be cooked to 165? F or hotter. Cooking also destroys flu viruses.

There is no evidence to suggest that you can become infected by eating properly cooked poultry and eggs. Proper handling and cooking of poultry provides protection against this virus, as it does against many viruses and bacteria, including Salmonella and E.coli. Safe food handling and preparation is important at all times.

Yes. By replacing the salt in your recipe with 2 parts of Minor's Base, the sodium, in your recipe can be reduced by 20%, along with retaining the same level of natural flavor enhancement. Minor's also carries a line of " Low Sodium Bases".

Birds, like people, can have the flu. Avian influenza or bird flu was first identified over 100 years ago during an outbreak in Italy. Over the years, the disease has appeared from time to time in regions all over the world. Avian influenza spreads easily among wild birds, but it can also infect domesticated birds including chickens, turkeys and ducks. Left untreated, avian influenza can devastate an entire flock of chickens.

A safe food handling label should be on all raw or partially precooked (not ready-to-eat) meat and poultry packages. The label tells the consumer how to safely store, prepare, and handle raw meat and poultry products in the home.

The best way to tell if thin cuts of meat are done is to make a small cut into the middle and do a visual test. Insert a small sharp knife to the center of the meat and spread apart slightly to check the color: According to the Sunset test kitchen, turkey or chicken will havedifferent temperatures throughout the body when perfectly cooked: at the breast bone, it will be 160?F; in the center of the breast, 170?F; and at the thigh joint, 175?F to 180?F.

Almost. Starting in early-to-mid October '07, we will be introducing the option of organic meat and poultry. We'll probably start with poultry. If you have an existing order in the system and want to add the organic meat/poultry option, login to your account and modify your order. There will be an additional charge for organic meat/poultry based on our cost of the protein. We'll send out an email to notify you when you can begin ordering organic meat and poultry.

Because freezing keeps food safe almost indefinitely, recommended storage times are for quality only. Refer to the freezer storage chart at the end of Focus on Freezing, which lists optimum freezing times for best quality. If a food is not listed on the chart, you may determine its quality after defrosting. First check the odor. Some foods will develop a rancid or off odor when frozen too long and should be discarded.

Within the muscle there is no bacterial contamination. When the muscles are cut into steaks and roasts, the bacterial contamination will only occur on the cut outside of the meat. Cooking these meats rare to medium will create enough heat to kill off these bacteria. In ground meat, however, the surface where bacterial contamination occurs is spread throughout the product in the grinding process. The only way to be sure to eliminate the bacteria is to cook the hamburgers thoroughly.

Providing that meat and eggs are properly cooked scientists believe there is not a risk from contracting Avian Influenza from such products.

Mechanical removal of louse eggs helps reduce the number of lice that might hatch on the scalp. Even if you use Nix, the egg "shells" may remain attached to the hairs, giving the impression of an active infestation. Since children who are declared "nit-free" can return to class sooner, removing nits has a positive impact on their morale and lessens disruption to their school activities. Special combs are provided with the pediculicides and should be used according to the product instructions.

Taylor Environmental Instruments is the thermometer company. You may reach them at 1-800-225-4834 (toll free).

The color of cooked meat and poultry is not a sure sign of its degree of doneness. For instance, hamburgers and fresh pork can remain pink even after cooking to temperatures of 160° F (71° C) or higher. The meat of smoked turkey is always pink because components within the smoke bind to the muscle pigment to form a stable pink pigment. Only by using a food thermometer can you accurately determine that meat has reached a safe internal temperature.

Yes, it is safe to eat chicken and other poultry products that have been fully-cooked (fried, boiled or grilled). Do not eat poultry meat that is still pink or half-cooked/half-boiled eggs.