(Washington, D.C., August 30, 2007)  We all want the meals we prepare for our families to be nutritious, tasty, convenient and of course- safe.  Safety concerns have been in the news and on the minds of consumers in recent months, perhaps leaving many family cooks wondering if they’re doing all they can in the kitchen to safely prepare meals and store leftovers.  So for the month of September, the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation will be highlighting a new food safety tip every weekday on its homepage, IFIC.org.

“Consumers may sometimes feel overwhelmed with information concerning the foods they enjoy and proper handling techniques, or they may have questions about foods that are new to them,” said Danielle Schor, Senior Vice President of Food Safety at IFIC. “These tips will assist people in making informed decisions with regards to good food safety practices.”

A few of the food safety tips to be featured on IFIC.org:

• Put packages of raw meat, poultry or fish in a shallow pan before refrigerating so their juices won’t drip and contaminate other food.

• Reheat sauces, marinades, soups and gravy to a rolling boil.  Heat other leftovers thoroughly to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

• To be prepared for a power outage, consumers should keep on hand a few days worth of ready-to-eat foods which do not require heating or cooling.

“Common sense should always prevail when it comes to food preparation,” according to Schor.  “One additional tip consumers should always keep in mind is that if they have any doubts about the way a food looks or smells they should throw it out.”

The IFIC Foundation also has additional materials available for consumers on a wide range of food safety and defense issues.

For additional information on food safety, or to schedule an interview with an expert please call the IFIC Foundation Media Team at 202-296-6540.

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The International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation will effectively communicate science-based information on health, nutrition, and food safety for the public good.  The IFIC Foundation is supported primarily by the broad-based food, beverage and agricultural industries.IFIC Foundation materials are available at http://ific.org/newsroom. For interviews with scientific experts or for more information, call (202) 296-6540.