Who is responsible for food safety?
Farmers and ranchers take food safety seriously. The food they raise is subject to extensive food safety regulations and inspections, and technology allows food to be traced back to the farm that produced it. Farmers and ranchers have a vested interest in food safety — the food they produce is not only for consumers, it is for their family. The incidence of foodborne illness has dropped dramatically in the last 100 years. While food safety starts on the farm, it does not end there. The companies that process agricultural commodities into food take care to ensure their products are safe. We must also do our part at home and at school to prevent foodborne illness. Here are a few important tips: cook foods to proper temperatures, use separate cutting boards for uncooked meat and ready-to-eat foods, store leftover food in shallow containers and refrigerate within two hours.
