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Must-Have Kitchen Tool To Prevent Bird Flu And Salmonella

Concerns about bird flu, salmonella, and other foodborne illnesses can be mitigated by using a cooking thermometer to ensure that food is cooked to a safe temperature. Despite this, a recent health survey reveals that only about 27% of Americans use a thermometer “often” or “all the time” to check if meat, poultry, or fish has reached a safe temperature. In contrast, nearly 29% of adults reported they “never” use a thermometer, and 20% use one “rarely” or “sometimes.”

Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, emphasizes the importance of using a food thermometer to ensure that meats and eggs are cooked to temperatures that eliminate harmful bacteria like E. coli and salmonella. She advocates for every cook to have a thermometer readily available in the kitchen or near the grill.

The survey also highlighted gaps in knowledge regarding safe cooking temperatures. Less than 40% of respondents knew that poultry and eggs should be cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill off pathogens. Additionally, only 29% were aware that ground beef should reach 160 degrees to kill E. coli, and 21% knew that steaks and other whole cuts of beef should be cooked to 145 degrees.

On a positive note, most Americans appear to be avoiding raw or unpasteurized milk, which has been linked to bird flu outbreaks. Only 3% of U.S. adults reported consuming raw milk in the past year, and 4% were unsure. However, many are not aware of the connection between raw milk and bird flu; 15% knew that raw milk increases the risk, 33% believed it had no effect, and nearly half were unsure. Unpasteurized dairy products are known to cause significantly more illnesses and hospitalizations than pasteurized ones.

The survey, conducted from July 11-18 with nearly 1,500 U.S. adults, has a margin of error of ±3.6 percentage points. It underscores the need for better public awareness and education on food safety practices to prevent foodborne illnesses.