Consumer Knowledge of Home Food Safety Practices Survey

Conducted April 2011 Home Food Safety Behaviors

Q. Please indicate how often you do each of the following:
Always/ Usually Use different plates for handling raw meat and cooked meat Read and follow microwave cooking instructions on frozen/pre-packaged microwavable meals Use a food thermometer to check the doneness for red meat, pork or poultry Not wash utensils used to handle raw food before they are used for cooked food Use the same cutting board without cleaning it with hot soapy water between using it for raw meat or chicken and using it for ready-to-eat foods Leave perishable food out of the refrigerator for more than two hours 1999 85% N/A 22% 18% 10% 3%

n=1,000
2002 85% N/A 25% 18% 13% 3% 2011 89% 88% 20% 9% 6% 5%

Home Food Safety Practices

Q. Which of the following do you do regularly when shopping, cooking, preparing and consuming food products?
Wash my hands with soap and water Wash cutting board(s) with soap and water or bleach Properly store leftovers within two hours of serving Use different or just-cleaned cutting boards for each product (such as raw meat/poultry/produce) Separate raw meat, poultry and seafood from ready-to-eat food products Cook to required temperature (such as 165F for poultry) Thaw foods in refrigerator Regularly clean refrigerator/freezer/microwave oven Use a food thermometer to check the doneness of meat and poultry items Clean reusable grocery bags regularly I do not use reusable grocery bags

n=1,000

95% 86% 79% 77% 76% 63% 62% 62% 23% 15% 26%

Home Food Safety Behaviors

Q. When food is prepared at home, what do you think are the most common things that people do that might cause food poisoning? n=1,000

Not washing utensils/dishes Keeping food for too long/using after expiration date/using dented cans Not washing hands properly (before cooking) Cross contamination/using same utensils for raw and cooked foods Leaving foods out of the refrigerator/out of the refrigerator too long Undercooking/not cooking to proper temperature

N/A 12% N/A 13% 28% 17% 18% 24% 25% 26% 26% 31% 2002 2011

Q. Which of the following do you perform regularly when preparing microwave meals at home?

n=1,000

I do not have or use a microwave I do not have or use a food thermometer Use a food thermometer to make sure the food reaches the required temperature Increase or decrease cookign times times based on Increase or decrease cooking based on microwave wattage microwave wattage Let food stand for appropriate time after microwaving Check the meal package label at point of purchase to determine if the product is suitable for microwave Flip, rotate or stir during the microwave cooking process Follow ALL the cooking instructions Check food to see if it is fully heated before consuming

3%

18%
7% 47% 63% 65% 69% 72% 2011

74%

Home Food Safety Behaviors

Q. Before each time you begin to prepare food in your kitchen, how often do you wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds?
All of the time (that is without fail) Most of the time 7% 7% 3% 3% 3% 12% 35% 34% 40%

n=1,000

55% 57% 44% 2011 2002 1999

Some of the time

Rarely

Q. How often do you usually change or replace the sponge, cloth or rag that you use to clean up your kitchen?
9%
Daily 19% Several times a week Every week Every month Less often than every month Until it falls apart Use paper towels 4% 3% 12% 11% 5% 8% 21% 22% 20% 14% 25%

n=1,000

29% 29% 27% 31%

2011 2002 1999

1% 0% 3% 4%

Safe Food Temperature

Q. Do you know to what temperature food safety experts recommend people cook ground meat?
59% 35% 43% 28% 6% 29% 2002 2011

n=1,000

Yes

No

Not Sure

Safe Food Temperature

Q. To what minimum temperature do food safety experts recommend people cook ground beef? 2002
7% 2%

1% 15% Less than 120F 120F to 159F

2011

0%

9%

160F
161F or more Not Sure 26% 51% 45% 44%

n=352

n=282

Refrigerator Thermometer and Temperature

Q. Do you regularly check the thermometer in your refrigerator? n=1,000

23%

28% Yes

No

Don't have a thermometer in refrigerator 49%

Refrigerator Thermometer and Temperature

Q. At what temperature do you think your refrigerator is set? 1999
5% 12% 41% 15% 50F or higher Between 41F and 49F 40F (Correct) Below 40F (Correct) Not Sure

n=1,000

2011
2% 19% 20%

27%

2002

4% 9%

47% 13%

31%

28%

27%

*HealthFocus International conducted the Consumer Knowledge of Home Safety Practices survey in April 2011 for the American Dietetic Association and ConAgra Foods through an online survey of a random sample of 1,000 Americans between the ages of 20 and 75 who are the primary household shopper and responsible for preparing the main meal for the household three or more days a week. The sample was chosen to closely match U.S. population demographics. This survey was originally conducted in 1999, with a follow-up wave in 2002 and 2011. Objectives are to better understand U.S. consumer knowledge of food safety and safe food handling practices.

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics| Eatright.org | 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606 For more information, contact media@eatright.org.