scholarly journals Recipes for Determining Doneness in Poultry Do Not Provide Appropriate Information Based on US Government Guidelines

Foods ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar Chambers ◽  
Sandria Godwin ◽  
Taylor Terry

Research has shown that consumers use unsafe food handling practices when preparing poultry, which can increase the risk of foodborne illness such as salmonellosis or campylobacteriosis. Recipes from cookbooks, magazines, and the internet commonly are used as sources for consumers to prepare food in homes and the expectation is that food will be safe when prepared. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), using a thermometer properly is the only way to accurately check for doneness of poultry. The objective of this study was to assess poultry recipes, including recipes for whole birds and poultry parts, to determine if food safety information concerning thermometer use was included within the recipe. Poultry recipes (n = 474) were collected from 217 cookbooks, 28 magazines, 59 websites, and seven blogs. Approximately 33.5% of the recipes contained a specific temperature for doneness, with 73% of those cooked to ≥165 °F/74 °C, as recommended by USDA. Ninety-four percent of recipes used cooking time and about half of the recipes used visual measurements, such as color or juices running clear, to determine doneness. This study showed that most recipes do not contain appropriate information to assure safe cooking of poultry by consumers. Modifying recipes by adding food safety information, such as thermometer use and proper temperatures, could increase the use of proper food preparation behaviors by consumers.

2019 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
KATHERINE M. KOSA ◽  
SHERYL C. CATES ◽  
JENNA BROPHY ◽  
SANDRIA GODWIN ◽  
DELORES CHAMBERS ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Salmonella and Campylobacter are among the most common causes of foodborne disease in the United States. Most illnesses are associated with eating raw or undercooked poultry or cross-contamination. Young children and older adults are more susceptible to contracting foodborne illness and have serious infections compared with other age groups. We conducted a Web-based survey of parents of young children (n = 1,957) and older adults (n = 1,980) to estimate adherence to recommended food safety practices for raw poultry and to identify differences in practices between the two groups. The findings present adherence rates for 20 practices. In both groups, less than 50% of respondents reported adherence to seven practices; thus, improvements are needed in these areas. Parent respondents were significantly more likely than older adult respondents to report following eight practices, with most related to avoiding cross-contamination and using a food thermometer. For example, parents (39%) were significantly more likely than older adults (31%) to report not rinsing or washing raw poultry (P < 0.001). Older adult respondents were significantly more likely than parent respondents to report following seven practices, with most related to chilling to proper temperatures and thawing. For example, older adults (87%) were significantly more likely than parents (69%) to report cooking, freezing, or discarding raw poultry within 1 to 2 days of purchase as recommended (P < 0.001). For the remaining five practices, no differences were found between groups. To motivate behavior change, food safety messages and materials must target specific at-risk populations as their practices are different. Additional research is needed to better understand how parents of young children and older adults like to receive food safety information and how to tailor the information to different generations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 83 (11) ◽  
pp. 1998-2007
Author(s):  
MERLYN THOMAS ◽  
YAOHUA FENG

ABSTRACT Pet food has been identified as a source of pathogenic bacteria, including Salmonella and Escherichia coli. A recent outbreak linked to Salmonella-contaminated pet treats infected >150 people in the United States. The mechanism by which contaminated pet food leads to human illness has not been explicated, and pet owners' food safety knowledge and their pet food handling practices have not been reported. This study was conducted to evaluate pet owners' food safety knowledge and pet food handling practices through an online consumer survey. The survey consisted of 62 questions and assessed (i) owners' food safety knowledge and pet food handling practices; (ii) owners' interaction with pets; and (iii) owners' risk perception related to their own health, their children's health, and their pets' health. The survey was pilot tested among 59 pet owners before distribution to a national consumer panel managed by Qualtrics XM (Provo, UT). All participants (n = 1,040) were dog and/or cat owners in the United States. Almost all pet owners (93%) interacted with their pets, and most cuddled, allowed their pets to lick them, and slept with their pets. Less than one-third of pet owners washed their hands with soap after interacting with their pets. Over half (58%) of the owners reported washing their hands after feeding their pets. Most pet owners fed their pets dry pet food and dry pet treats. Some fed their pets raw meat or raw animal product diets because they believed these diets to be beneficial to the pet's overall health. Many owners (78%) were unaware of pet food recalls or outbreaks associated with foodborne pathogens. Less than 25% considered dry pet foods and treats as a potential source of foodborne pathogens. Pet owners were more concerned when seeing news about pets becoming ill from pet food and less concerned when seeing news about people becoming ill from pet food. The findings of this study indicated the need for consumer education about handling pet food. These results can help researchers develop more accurate risk assessment models and consumer education messages related to pet food handling. HIGHLIGHTS


Author(s):  
Merlyn S. Thomas ◽  
Yaohua Feng

At present, SARS-CoV-2 has not been shown to be transmitted through food, even so the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how consumers view food and food safety. This study assessed consumer food safety practices during the COVID-19 pandemic using (1) surveys and (2) online focus group discussions. From April to August 2020, five waves of surveys were distributed to an online U.S. consumer panel and screened to include only primary food preparers and grocery shoppers. The online focus groups were conducted via WebEx from May to July 2020. Focus group participants were recruited from the first wave of survey respondents. Both survey respondents and focus group participants reported higher levels of handwashing in response to the pandemic. However, survey participants’ anticipated levels of handwashing after the pandemic decreased; some focus group participants noted that human nature “kicking in” could lead to lower levels of hand hygiene practice. For each of the five months, the survey reported increased produce washing, both with water only and with water plus soap. Most focus group participants mentioned using water to wash their produce, but some reported using soap and even vinegar to “kill” the virus. Since consumers were worried that SARS-Cov-2 could survive on food, they started to mishandle food to address these concerns. However, this study also reported an increase in food thermometer use during the pandemic. Social determinants like gender, income, education, and age may have also influenced changes in levels of practice throughout the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic drove consumers to practice proper and improper food safety practices, which may or may not continue after the pandemic. This study’s findings provide timely information to guide future food safety education and communication during health crises and pandemics.


2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 130-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
ELIZABETH C. REDMOND ◽  
CHRISTOPHER J. GRIFFITH

Epidemiological data from Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand indicate that a substantial proportion of foodborne disease is attributable to improper food preparation practices in consumers' homes. International concern about consumer food safety has prompted considerable research to evaluate domestic food-handling practices. The majority of consumer food safety studies in the last decade have been conducted in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (48%) and in the United States (42%). Surveys (questionnaires and interviews), the most frequent means of data collection, were used in 75% of the reviewed studies. Focus groups and observational studies have also been used. One consumer food safety study examined the relationship between pathogenic microbial contamination from raw chicken and observed food-handling behaviors, and the results of this study indicated extensive Campylobacter cross-contamination during food preparation sessions. Limited information about consumers' attitudes and intentions with regard to safe food-handling behaviors has been obtained, although a substantial amount of information about consumer knowledge and self-reported practices is available. Observation studies suggest that substantial numbers of consumers frequently implement unsafe food-handling practices. Knowledge, attitudes, intentions, and self-reported practices did not correspond to observed behaviors, suggesting that observational studies provide a more realistic indication of the food hygiene actions actually used in domestic food preparation. An improvement in consumer food-handling behavior is likely to reduce the risk and incidence of foodborne disease. The need for the development and implementation of food safety education strategies to improve specific food safety behaviors is reviewed in this paper.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (02) ◽  
pp. 111-120
Author(s):  
Arifin Zainul ◽  
Nuhfil Hanani ◽  
Djoko Kustiono ◽  
S Syafrial ◽  
Rosihan Asmara

By 2045, Indonesia's population is expected to reach 321.4 million, the fifth largest in the world after China, India, Nigeria, and the United States. It is an excellent challenge for Indonesia to provide food in the future as it keeps pace with the rapid population growth. This study aims to analyze forecasting the basic conditions of Indonesia’s rice economy 2019-2045. The research data use time-series data from 1961-2018, including data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), Ministry of Agriculture/Pusdatin, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Rice Research (IRR), Department of Commerce, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and ASEAN Food Safety Information System (AFSIS). Data analysis using the simultaneous equations model approach. The results show that in 2019-2045 the projection of rice productivity in 2025 is 64,465 quintals per hectare; in 2035, it is 68,797 quintals per hectare, and in 2045 it is 77,462 quintals per hectare. In 2045, the projected land area is 27.64 million hectares. Although Indonesia is forecast to experience a rice surplus of 37.80 million tonnes in 2045, the projected rice production and domestic rice consumption level indicate the potential for rice imports of 15 million tonnes.


Author(s):  
Paul Shapiro

The animal agribusiness industries often proclaim a libertarian mantra when asked to accept rules for their conduct in regard to animal welfare, the environment, and food safety. However, in this chapter, the author explores how when these industries suffer from lack of demand, their clamor toward socialism is stark. They consistently come to the US Congress and the United States Department of Agriculture with outstretched arms and cupped palms, seeking to defy the normal laws of economics that other businesses must navigate. In fact, the meat, egg, and dairy industries are enormous beneficiaries of generous federal subsidies, research and development, and even surplus buy-ups of unwanted product. Such a reliance on federal handouts by animal agribusiness calls into question their proclamation of libertarianism and free market principles.


2014 ◽  
Vol 77 (8) ◽  
pp. 1336-1341 ◽  
Author(s):  
KATHERINE M. KOSA ◽  
SHERYL C. CATES ◽  
ARON J. HALL ◽  
JENNA E. BROPHY ◽  
ANGELA FRASER

Noroviruses (NoVs) are the most common etiologic agents of endemic and epidemic foodborne disease in the United States. Food safety professionals play an important role in protecting the public from foodborne illness. A survey of food safety professionals (n = 314) was conducted to characterize their knowledge of NoVs and to identify gaps in this knowledge. To recruit individuals, 25 professional organizations promoted the survey via their Web sites, newsletters, and/or e-mail distribution lists. The survey used true or false and open-ended questions to assess knowledge about NoVs, including attribution, transmission, and prevention and control strategies, including food handling practices. The online survey was available from mid-October 2012 to mid-January 2013. Of the 314 respondents, 66.2% correctly identified NoVs as one of the three most common causes of foodborne disease in the United States. Only 5.4% of respondents correctly identified the three most common settings for NoV infections, and 65.0% of respondents had the misperception that cruise ships are one of the three most common settings. Seventeen respondents (5.4%) answered all 20 true-or-false questions correctly, 33 respondents (10.5%) answered at least 19 of the 20 questions correctly, and 186 respondents (65.0%) answered at least 15 of the 20 questions correctly (i.e., a score of 75% or higher). The content domain in which respondents had the most incorrect answers was food handling practices. Thirty-eight percent of respondents incorrectly responded that it is safe for restaurant workers infected with NoVs to handle packaged food, food equipment, and utensils. About half of respondents did not know the recommended sanitizing solution for eliminating NoVs from a contaminated surface. The survey findings identified several important gaps in food safety professionals' knowledge of NoVs. The study results will inform the development of a Web-based educational module on NoVs to improve efforts to prevent the spread of NoVs in retail and institutional food establishments.


1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (3-5) ◽  
pp. 65-68
Author(s):  
Michelle Miller

The following case study addresses the difficulties and promise of developing a statewide interagency public information campaign to raise general awareness of water quality issues and governmental programs to address them. Due to only moderate success of voluntary programs to curb nonpoint source pollution, agencies are looking toward information and education programs to motivate the public toward conservation behavior. One of the biggest obstacles in developing an effective information/education program is institutional barriers to interagency cooperation, mirroring difficulties local conservationists encounter in their work to restore and maintain water quality at the watershed level. Cooperation between federal agencies, and resource commitment to public information is necessary at the federal level, as well as state and local levels. Agencies involved to date include the United States Department of Agriculture-Soil Conservation Service; Wisconsin State Departments of Natural Resources, and Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and Administration; University of Wisconsin-Extension; Wisconsin Land Conservation Association.


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