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Noon Edition

Preventing Foodborne Illness

Fruit and vegetables are carriers of foodborne illness

Noon Edition airs on Fridays at noon on WFIU

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 48 million Americans are affected by a foodborne disease each year. That's one in every six Americans. More than 100,000 will have to visit the hospital each year and 3,000 Americans lose their lives due to foodborne diseases.

Hoosiers are no strangers to outbreaks of foodborne illness. But scientists including some right here in Indiana are working on new resources for consumers to protect themselves and their families.

This week on Noon Edition we'll talk about the prevention of foodborne illnesses and what you can do to protect yourself.

Guests:

Patricia Wakenell, Professor of Avian Diagnostics at Purdue University

Tracy Hawkins, Rapid Response Team Epidemiologist for the Indiana State Department of Health

George Hegeman, Professor Emeritus of Biology at Indiana University

Conversation: Foodborne Illness

Rapid Response Team Epidemiologist Tracy Hawkins shed light on how the State Department of Health approaches foodborne illness, while offering advice to people on how to prevent foodborne illness once the food is in your control.

"It's important to not work while you're sick, handling food, even for your own family, or in a restaurant," Hawkins says.

George Hegeman is Professor Emeritus of Biology at Indiana University and a member of the Monroe County Health Board.

"The most important thing that anyone can do is wash your hands properly in between the handling of different food products," he says. "The USDA says that only 3 percent of people in the US wash their hands properly."

Hegeman says proper refrigeration is just as important as proper cooking.

Patricia Wakenell is a Professor of Avian Diagnostics at Purdue University and one of the leading experts on avian pathology in the nation.

She warns against the practice of "co-feeding," in which people share food-related utensils with their animals.

"I can't think of anything worse," Wakenell says. "We have the best food system in the world, really, for checking for agents. We have to take our part in making sure we don't take agents that are there and we can't get rid of."

All three guests agree people should follow the saying, "when in doubt, throw it out."

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