Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill: The USDA’s New Food Safety Campaign

Anjali Prasertong
Anjali Prasertong
Anjali Prasertong is a writer and public health dietitian focused on food systems, racial equity, and nutrition. Originally from Los Angeles, she has taught English in rural Japan, worked as a private chef in Malibu, and led an innovative city-funded corner store program in New Orleans that increased fresh food access in low-income neighborhoods. She was previously a contributing editor for The Kitchn, and currently lives in Denver with her husband and two kids.
Follow
published Jul 5, 2011
pinterest
comments
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

The USDA’s new food safety campaign reportedly cost $2 million and features eye-catching graphics and quirky TV ads. But in making food safety the responsibility of the public, does it miss the point?

The graphic above illustrates the main points of the campaign:

1. Clean: Clean kitchen surfaces, utensils, and hands with soap and water while preparing food.
2. Separate: Separate raw meats from other foods by using different cutting boards.
3. Cook: Cook foods to the right temperature by using a food thermometer.
4. Chill: Chill raw and prepared foods promptly.

The campaign’s TV spots are memorably humorous, featuring a lobster chilling on a couch, a chicken facing off with a bunch of carrots, and a pig in a sauna. But as food politics expert Marion Nestle points out in The Atlantic, all of the concepts are about our responsibility for food safety.

But are most food safety issues caused by mishandling of food in home kitchens? Michael Batz, an expert at the Emerging Pathogens Institute, says no. He told GOOD magazine,

“[The] USDA’s consumer advice is helpful and those following these rules will certainly reduce their risk, but it’s important to note that many foodborne risks are largely outside of consumers’ control, whether we’re talking about how food is prepared in a neighborhood restaurants or the practices of farmers halfway around the world.”

Read more:
• The USDA’s Latest Food Safety Campaign: Pig-in-a-Sauna Edition at The Atlantic
• The ‘Wacky’ USDA Ad Campaign to Get You to Separate Your Meat and Veggies at GOOD

What do you think of this new campaign? Will it change the way you handle food at home?

Related: Ask Karen: USDA Food Safety Info on Your Phone

(Image: FoodSafety.gov)