(Grassroots Newswire)--When you sit down to dinner - whether it is at a restaurant or at home - you probably don't think about how the food was prepared; however, according to Foodsafety.gov., food handling safety risks at home are more common than most people think. In fact, the organization's Web site indicates that 76 million cases of food borne illness occur every year and of that number 325,000 people are hospitalized - and 5,000 die from food borne illnesses.
“These facts dramatically illustrate why Church's Chicken takes food safety so seriously and why we require that a certified food safety manager is present at each of our domestic locations," says Steve Heissner, director of national field training.
In recognition of National Food Safety Education Month, Heissner offered tips and advice:
- Wash hands, utensils and food preparation surfaces such as cutting boards frequently and use warm soapy water and a nail brush.
- When cooking chicken, make sure to cook it to 185° F. You can't tell whether food is cooked safely by how it looks, which is why every kitchen should have an accurate food thermometer.
- Many foods taste better a day or two after they've been cooked. However, food should be refrigerated soon after cooking - and never past two hours to limit bacterial build-up. Place prepared food in the refrigerator at 40° F or below, which is another reason for the need of a food thermometer.
“Church's maintains a comprehensive Policy and Procedures Manual that addresses everything from personal hygiene, sanitation practices, critical cooking and holding times as well as product shelf life, handling and storage - and it doesn't stop there," said Heissner.
Church's Chicken has a long standing affiliation with ServSafe, a nationally accredited and recognized organization dedicated to employee education and certification in food safe handling practices, according to Heissner, to make sure they're on top of the latest information in the area of food safety.
In 2009, the company looks to further their commitment to food safety by making certification more accessible to their extensive and diverse work force through multi-language online educational programs.
For more information about Church's Chicken®, please visit www.churchs.com.