The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), have released the results of their annual Food Safety Surveys. The survey is used to gauge and track the public’s understanding of proper food safety handling techniques.
Key findings from the report include the following:
- Food thermometer ownership rates have remained constant but usage has slightly increased
- After increasing between 2006 and 2010, hand washing rates have remained constant or decreased between 2010 and 2016
- Most consumers do not wash their hands after using handheld phones or tablets in the kitchen
Visit the FDA Consumer Behavior Research webpage to view the full 2016 survey report and additional information on this project.