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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts


How Much Do You Know About Food Safety?

Chris Woolston
CONSUMER HEALTH INTERACTIVE

Humans aren't the only creatures who love juicy hamburgers, fresh fruit, chicken, potato salad, and other foods of summer. In fact, we have plenty of competition from the likes of E. coli, campylobacter, and salmonella bacteria. According to the National Institutes of Health, food-borne germs cause 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,200 deaths in the United States every year. A few precautions will go a long way, whether you're enjoying a summertime picnic or a holiday party. Take this short quiz to find out how much you know about food safety.


1. What's the single most important thing you can do to prevent food poisoning?

a. Wash your hands often, especially while cooking
b. Choose your foods carefully
c. Thoroughly cook all foods
d. Keep your kitchen clean.

2. I keep the temperature of my refrigerator at:

a. 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius)
b. 40 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees C)
c. I have no idea

3. Preparing for a party, you pull an hors d'oeuvre tray of shrimp and deviled eggs out of the fridge. How long can the food safely stay at room temperature?

a. One hour
b. Two hours
c. Three hours
d. Until the guests go home

4. The last time you cooked beef goulash, the stew was:

a. Put in the refrigerator after a couple of hours
b. Stored after you had dessert and watched a video
c. Left at room temperature overnight or longer

5. You're more likely to get food poisoning if you eat your hamburger:

a. Medium rare
b. Well-done
c. Medium
d. None of the above

6. Which of these foods is the LEAST likely to harbor harmful bacteria?

a. Homemade cookie dough
b. Freshly cut cantaloupe
c. Raw alfalfa sprouts
d. Slightly moldy cheese

7. Which is the MOST risky way to wash dishes?

a. In a dishwasher
b. Let them soak in warm water and soap for a few hours, then use that water to wash them with a sponge.
c. Wash them soon after eating and air dry

8. While packing condiments for a picnic, you find several open jars and bottles in the fridge. Which of these items belongs in the trash, not the picnic basket?

a. A three-month-old jar of salsa
b. A two-month-old jar of mayonnaise
c. A five-month-old bottle of ketchup
d. A 10-month-old jar of mustard

9. Which item should never be left in the sun at a picnic?

a. Green apples
b. Hard candies
c. Angel food cake
d. Traditional potato salad



First published Aug 27, 2001


Last updated Jul 24, 2007


Copyright © 2001 Consumer Health Interactive, a CVS Caremark company