Cook: What you need to know

Why is Cook important? 

Cooking foods to the proper internal temperature is necessary to inactivate foodborne pathogens. You can't judge doneness by looking at your food since factors other than temperature can influence appearance. A food thermometer is recommended to ensure that food reaches a safe internal endpoint temperature.    

Cook: Consumer data points

Here are some findings from recent studies and surveys:

• Only about 12% of consumers use food thermometers while cooking smaller pieces of meat and poultry, and only 6% use a thermometer while cooking hamburger!
• Even when consumers associate specific pathogens-- such as Campylobacter and E-coli O157:H7--with improper cooking, this awareness does not translate into safer practices, especially when they perceive it may alter the taste of food.
• Research shows that consumption of raw or undercooked animal products is relatively common in the United States. In one study of 4,548 young adults:

• 53% consumed raw cookie dough
• 33% ate eggs with runny or soft yolks
• 11% ate raw oysters, clams, or mussels
• 7% consumed rare hamburgers.

What do do:

Remind consumers that cooking to a safe internal temperature is an important practice for reducing risk of food poisoning! 

Cook Fact Sheet

Safe Cooking Temperatures Chart

Food Thermometer Mythbusters

Best wishes,