Most Americans Unaware of Safe Cooking Practices

WASHINGTONGrills will be firing up around the country this coming Labor Day, but most grillmasters wont be cooking their food to a safe temperature, according to a new poll commissioned by the American Meat Institute (AMI) and conducted by Harris Interactive.

The poll found that 88 percent of U.S. adults cook hamburgers and poultry, but only 19 percent 8 in 10 adults who cook hamburgers or poultry burgers use an instant-read thermometer to determine that the food is safely cooked and ready to eat. Further, approximately 73 percent of adults who cook hamburgers or poultry burgers incorrectly rely on sight to determine doneness, and 57 percent incorrectly rely on cooking time.

The most concerning finding, according to AMI, is that only 13 percent of adults ages 18-34 who cook hamburgers or poultry burgers use an instant read thermometer to determine doneness. Seventy-eight percent of this age group rely on sight to determine if the burger is cooked properly.

In terms of proper cooking temperatures, only one in five U.S. adults (20 percent) knows a hamburger should be cooked to 160 degree F to ensure it is safe to consume, while 41 percent mistakenly believe that hamburgers should be cooked to a temperature less than 160 degrees F, according to the poll.

Nearly half of U.S. adults (47 percent) believe that poultry burgers should be cooked to a temperature less than 165 degrees F. Only 13 percent know that a poultry burger should be cooked to 165 degree F to ensure it is safe to consume.

"Meat and poultry companies use many food safety strategies to make our products as safe as we can, and it is our responsibility to empower our customers with the information that they need to ensure that the products are safe when served," said AMI Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Janet Riley. "Our poll reveals that a significant knowledge gap still exists about proper cooking temperatures and thermometer use. U.S. meat and poultry products are among the safest in the world, but like all raw agricultural products, they can contain bacteria, and that is why it is important to take time to remind consumers about safe handling and cooking practices."