Grocery Stores: The Go-To Place for Cookout Supplies and Food Safety

Consumers take personal responsibility for ensuring their own food safety (FMI U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends Report 2016), but retailers can play a role in helping shoppers become more knowledgeable about food safety. So, as you help your customers gather supplies to celebrate Independence Day, take the opportunity to help educate shoppers about summer time food safety and remind them to be food safe by following Fight BAC®’s Core Four Messages—Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill.

By: Ashley Eisenbeiser, Director, Food and Product Safety Programs, Food Marketing Institute <img src="http://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/grilling.tmb-large-350-.png?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Grilling" title="Grilling" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /> Whether its burgers and hot dogs, potato salad and baked beans, or paper plates and utensils, the grocery store is the go-to place for your cookout essentials. This weekend, families decked out in their red, white, and blue outfits will flock to their local grocery store looking for the perfect dish to bring to their neighborhood potluck cookout. Consumers take personal responsibility for ensuring their own food safety (<a href="http://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/u-s-grocery-shopper-trends-2016">FMI U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends Report 2016</a>), but retailers can play a role in helping shoppers become more knowledgeable about food safety. So, as you help your customers gather supplies to celebrate Independence Day, take the opportunity to help educate shoppers about <a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2015/06/30/summertime-food-safety">summer time food safety</a> and remind them to be food safe by following <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/">Fight BAC®’s</a> Core Four Messages—Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill. FMI is a partner organization of the <a href="file:///C:/Users/kjw/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/SJV2ZH41/fightbac.org">Partnership for Food Safety Education</a> which offers a number of resources for grocery stores to share with shoppers during this grilling season to prevent foodborne illness. Here are a few resources to help: Fight BAC® Core 4 Fact Sheets: <ul> <li><a href="http://www.fightbac.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/PFSE-7696-Fact-Sheets-Clean_FINAL.pdf?utm_source=It%27s+Basic-+CLEAN&utm_campaign=7_28+if+you+do+something+say+something&utm_medium=email">Clean Fact Sheet</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.fightbac.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/PFSE-7696-Fact-Sheets-Separate_FINAL.pdf?utm_source=It%27s+Basic-+SEPARATE&utm_campaign=7_28+if+you+do+something+say+something&utm_medium=email">Separate</a> Fact Sheet</li> <li><a href="http://www.fightbac.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/PFSE-7696-Fact-Sheets-Cook_revlinksFINAL.pdf?utm_source=It%27s+Basic-+COOK&utm_campaign=new+core+4+fact+sheets&utm_medium=email">Cook</a> Fact Sheet</li> <li><a href="http://www.fightbac.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/PFSE-7696-Fact-Sheets-Chill_revlinksFINAL-1.pdf?utm_source=It%27s+Basic-+CHILL&utm_campaign=new+core+4+fact+sheets&utm_medium=email">Chill</a> Fact Sheet </li> </ul> <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/seven-super-steps-to-safe-food-in-the-summer/">Seven Super Steps to Safe Food in the Summer</a>—While warmer weather conditions may be ideal for outdoor picnics and barbecues, it provides a perfect environment for bacteria and other pathogens in food to multiply rapidly and cause foodborne illness. These seven steps focus on reducing the risk of foodborne illness this summer <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/summer-without-salmonella/">Summer without Salmonella</a>—Help your shoppers TAKE ACTION this summer by educating them on how to reduce the risk of Salmonella. These flyers and postcards are available in English and Spanish. <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Grilling_Essentials_Flyer_PFSE1.jpg">Grilling Essential: Food Thermometers Flyer</a>—This flyer includes information on food temperatures and tips for using a food thermometer to help shoppers grill safe this summer. <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/food-safety-on-the-move1.pdf">Food Safety on the Move</a>—Food poisoning peaks during summer months, this flyer provides food safety information for families traveling this summer. The <a href="http://www.fightbac.gov/">Partnership for Food Safety Education</a> develops and promotes effective education programs to reduce foodborne illness risk for consumers. For more information about the Partnership for Food Safety Education or for additional food safety resources visit  <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/">www.fightbac.org</a>. Photo Credit: CDC

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