You probably have many concerns about the foods you give to your child – is it a nutritious meal? Will your child eat it? Is there too much fat? But one thing that may not cross your mind as you're slicing and dicing in the kitchen is food safety.

Proper food preparations are necessary to prevent your family from becoming sick from food-borne illnesses caused by bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria (which can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and dehydration). These bacteria are spread by numerous methods: through unwashed hands, on dirty kitchen surfaces, through poorly prepared food or food that has spoiled and by cross-contamination of food products. Food safety precautions begin in the grocery store, continue with storage and preparation and end with cleanup after a family meal.

Even though the American food supply is one of the safest in the world, bacteria are still living and breeding by the millions all around us. According to Karen Sebby Powers of Microbac Laboratories, which provides independent food safety testing for all 21 area Shoney's of Knoxville locations, hand washing is the most important and easiest way to prevent the spread of bacteria that can make us sick. "Infants and young children, pregnant women and older adults are at the greatest risk for food borne illness, as are all people with weakened immune systems," Powers said.

But food safety doesn't end with hand washing. There are several other steps that you and your family need to practice to keep bacteria at bay. "How you prepare food is just as important as what ingredients you use," Powers added. "When you eat at a restaurant, you know that the staff takes precautions to make sure food preparation processes are clean and germ free. But it's equally important for everything in your kitchen at home to be that clean, too."

Parents need to teach their children the following easy steps to keep foods safe, which will cut the risk of potential illness-causing bacteria:
	Wash hands frequently, especially before and after handling any food. Be sure that countertops and other surfaces where food is being prepared are clean, too.
	Keep foods (especially raw meats, poultry or fish products) separate from food that won't be cooked. Never use a plate or utensil for cooked food that held raw meats. Be sure raw meat items are separated both in your shopping cart and in the refrigerator from foods that will be consumed raw, such as fruits and vegetables.
	Use a meat thermometer to be sure foods are cooked to the proper temperature—using a food thermometer is the ONLY way to tell if your food has reached a high enough temperature to destroy harmful bacteria.
	Refrigerate food promptly. Put any leftovers in the fridge within two hours of being prepared. Ensure your refrigerator is kept at 40° Farenheit or lower.

The above practices are often referred to as "clean, separate, cook and chill" by the Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE). Keeping these four simple steps in mind when preparing food will greatly reduce the chances you or a family member will get sick from consuming food.

For more information, visit:
	How does your kitchen measure up?
	Hand washing: The first line of defense against germs
	TeensHealth article for Teens – Food safety
	KidsHealth article for Parents – Food safety for your family
	KidsHealth article for Kids – Being safe in the kitchen
	KidsHealth article for Parents – Is it safe to eat food dropped on the floor?
	KidsHealth article for Parents – Produce precautions
	Area Shoney's Restaurants
	Partnership for Food Safety Education
	USDA Food Safety Education Center for Kids and Teens