By: Katie Burns Date: 8/1/11 Registered dietitians are aware of
the science behind the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and
are knowledgeable of the impact poor diet can play on one’s
health, but an important component of food and health that is
often overlooked or oversimplified is food safety. A significant
public health issue, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention estimates that there are 48 million illnesses,
128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths per year in the United
States related to foodborne illness. Food safety doesn’t
strengthen your bones; it won’t help manage your weight, nor
will it help you run faster and jump higher. However, it does
play an important role in disease prevention and overall health
and wellness. Unfortunately, the IFIC Foundation 2011 Food &
Health Survey has shown a steady decline in safe food handling
practices by consumers: • CLEAN: Only about 80% of Americans
report washing their hands with soap and water and only 71%
report washing cutting boards when prep