Food waste is a major concern. Wasted food is a huge challenge to our natural resources, our environment, and our pocketbooks. Between 30 and 40 percent of food in the United States goes uneaten – as much as 20 pounds of food per person per month. That means Americans are throwing out the equivalent of $165 billion in food each year.
Have a friendly competition with your friends or family members to see who can go the longest without any food waste.
A to Z Food Safety Reference Guide
Whether you are a home cook, a professional chef, or a recipe writer, there are some easy steps you can take to help keep your food safe all the way from the grocery store to the kitchen table.
Becoming food safety savvy is as easy as A–B–C! Let your fingers do the walking through this user-friendly reference guide that offers you a wealth of invaluable, up-to-date food safety information. Also included are in-depth sections on the step-by-step journey food travels from the farm to the table; how to prepare and handle food safely; the Fight BAC!TM Campaign’s 4 Simple Steps to Food Safety: Clean, Separate (Combat Cross-Contamination), Cook, and Chill; and fascinating food safety careers!
Helpful Tips and Fun Facts
Our Resources
Each year getting food to U.S. tables requires:
- 80 percent of our freshwater,
- 10 percent of our available energy, and,
- Half of our land.
The Environment
Organic waste, mostly food, is the second biggest component of landfills, and landfills are the third largest source of methane emissions. Methane is a major factor in global warming because it is so effective at absorbing the sun’s heat, which warms the atmosphere.
How Food Waste and Food Safety Are Connected
The major sources of food waste in the United States are the food industry and consumers. Within the food industry, waste occurs at every step — on the farm and with packers, processors, distributors, and retailers. Some of it is the result of economic forces, some of management problems, and some is caused simply by dumping products that are less than perfect in appearance.
But food waste by consumers may often result from fears about food safety caused by misunderstanding of what food product dating actually means, along with uncertainty about storage of perishable foods.
Understanding Food Product Dating
Except for infant formula, dates on food products are not required by any Federal law or regulation, although some states do have requirements for them. Most of the food dates consumers see are on perishable foods, that is, foods likely to quickly spoil, decay or become unsafe to eat if not kept refrigerated at 40° F or below or frozen at 0° F or below. Perishables include meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, fresh eggs, and fresh fruit and vegetables. Makers/packers of perishable food use food dates to help ensure that consumers buy or use their products while they are at what the maker/packer considers their best quality.
- A Sell by date indicates that a product should not be sold after that date if the buyer is to have it at its best quality.
- A Use by or Best by date is the maker’s estimate of how long a product will keep at its best quality.
- They are quality dates only, not safety dates. If stored properly, a food product should be safe, wholesome and of good quality after its Use by or Best by date.
How to Best to Store Perishables and How Long They Will Keep Safely
The FoodKeeper, developed cooperatively by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cornell University and the Food Marketing Institute, is a complete guide to how long virtually every food available in the United States will keep in the pantry, in the refrigerator, and in the freezer. The Fresh Fruits section, for example, covers apples (3 weeks in the pantry, 4 – 6 weeks in the fridge, and — only if cooked — 8 months in the freezer) to pomegranates (2 – 5 days pantry, 1 – 3 months fridge, and 10 – 12 months freezer). The Meat, Poultry and Seafood sections are equally complete, and include smoked as well fresh products.
Video: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill!
Make sure to keep hot foods hot, and cold foods cold. This information provides safety tips for handling and preparing common foods, and what to avoid and how to make better choices to prevent food poisoning and food waste.
Information and Resources
FoodSafety.gov Charts: Food Safety at a Glance
How long can you store leftovers in the refrigerator? How can you tell when chicken breasts are done? How long does it take to cook a turkey? Check out these charts for fast answers.
Storing Food Charts
Storing Food
Whether putting food in the refrigerator, the freezer, or the cupboard, you have plenty of opportunities to prevent foodborne illnesses.
Preparing and Cooking Food Charts
Preparing and Cooking Food
One of the basics of food safety is cooking food to its proper temperature. Foods are properly cooked when they are heated for a long enough time and at a high enough temperature to kill the harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illness.
FoodSafety.gov: FoodKeeper App
The FoodKeeper helps you understand food and beverages storage. It will help you maximize the freshness and quality of items. By doing so you will be able to keep items fresh longer than if they were not stored properly. It is also available as a mobile application for Android and Apple devices.
Public Downloads
All items are free to view, share, and download.
Public Downloads - Español (Spanish)
When available, we provide all our content with a Spanish version in our public download section. You can find additional material from sources listed in all our articles.
Download Food Safety Activities, Coloring Sheets, Infographics and Videos
Food Safety Educational Downloads
-whatever Download Food Safety Activities
A Handbook for Kitchen Food Safety A to Z Food Safety Reference Guide Anyone Can Get Food Poisoning Poster Bad Bug Book Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Handbook Fight BAC Food Safety Poster Food Safe Families Activity Book Food Safe Families Activity Book - Spanish Food Safety Activity Worksheet Food Safety at Home or School and When Eating Out Activity Book Food Safety Keep Hands Clean Food Safety Shopping Lists Food Technology Educational Activity Book and Worksheets Information on Food Safety After School Information on Food Safety After School - Spanish Information on Food Safety After School - Spanish Learn Food Safety, Hygiene and Preparation for Kids Safe Recipe Cooking with Nutritious Ingredients Safe Recipe Cooking with Nutritious Ingredients - Spanish Safe Recipe Download the Sample Recipe Cards for Food Safety Safe Recipe Style Guide Safe Recipe Style Temperature Chart for Food Safety Safe Recipe Tips for Writing Food Safe Recipes Safe Recipe Tips for Writing Food Safe Recipes - Spanish School Lunch Food Safety Tips Flyer Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce Cheat Sheet USDA Food Safety Mobile Coloring Book {/sliders-whatever}
-whatever Download Food Safety Activity Sheets
Chill Word Puzzle Food Safety Activity Sheet Clean Word Puzzle Food Safety Activity Sheet Food Safety Check Your Steps Children's Color Quiz Activity Worksheet Food Safety Core Four Activity Placemat Printable Page 8x14 or 11x17 Food Safety Retailer Story Activity Placemat Printable Page 8x14 or 11x17 Food Safety Turkey Story Activity Placemat Printable Page 8x14 or 11x17 Food Safety Vegetable Story Activity Placemat Printable Page 8x14 or 11x17 Lunch Choices Food Safety Activity Sheets Separate, Do not Cross Contaminate Word Search Food Safety Activity Sheet Solve the Mystery Food Safety Activity Sheets Thanksgiving Word Puzzle Food Safety Activity Sheet Word Scramble Food Safety Activity Sheets Word Search and Define Food Safety Activity Sheets {/sliders-whatever}
-whatever Download Food Safety Coloring Sheets
BAC with Cookie Dough Food Safety Coloring Sheet BAC with Turkey Food Safety Coloring Sheet Certificate of Participation Food Safety Coloring Sheet Food Safety Mistakes Coloring Sheet Fruits and Vegetables Food Safety Coloring Sheet Handwashing Food Safety Coloring Sheet Hot and Cold Food Safety Coloring Sheet Keep Kitchen Clean Food Safety Coloring Sheet No BAC Logo Food Safety Coloring Sheet Perishables Food Safety Coloring Sheet Picnics Food Safety Coloring Sheet Recipes Food Safety Coloring Sheet Refrigerator Food Safety Coloring Sheet Safe Handling Label Food Safety Coloring Sheet Thermy Coloring Sheet Wash and Dry Food Safety Coloring Sheet {/sliders-whatever}
-whatever Download Food Safety Videos
7 Tips for Cleaning Fruits and Vegetables Video Barbecue Basics Tips to Prevent Foodborne Illness Food Safety during Power Outages Video Food Safety in the Kitchen Video Food Safety Video - Cooking to a Safe Internal Temperature and How to Use a Food Thermometer Food Safety Video - Cross Contamination Food Safety Video - Gear Up for Food Safety Food Safety Video - How to Thaw Foods Properly Food Safety Video - How to Use a Food Thermometer Food Safety Video - Smart Kids Fight BAC Food Safety Video - Super Bowl Cooking with Martie Duncan Food Safety Video - The Importance of Cleaning and Washing During Food Preparation Fresh and Frozen Seafood Selecting and Serving it Safely Prevent Food Poisoning Video - Bake Safely Prevent Food Poisoning Video - Bake Safely - Spanish Prevent Food Poisoning Video - Keep Foods Separate Prevent Food Poisoning Video - Keep Foods Separate - Spanish Prevent Food Poisoning Video - People at Higher Risk for Food Poisoning Prevent Food Poisoning Video - Safety Tips for Handling and Preparing Common Food Prevent Food Poisoning Video - Symptoms of Severe Food Poisoning Safe and Nutritious Tips for Cooking at Home Safe Handling of Raw Produce and Fresh-Squeezed Fruit and Vegetable Juices The Dangers of Unpasteurized Milk The Food Label and Your Party Food Gametime Play By Play What You Should Know The Latest on Hand Sanitizers What You Should Know The Latest on Hand Sanitizers - Spanish {/sliders-whatever}
-whatever Download Food Handling Fact Sheets
7 Steps Community Meals and Food Safety in the Kitchen Advice About Eating Fish and Shellfish Chart Only Advice About Eating Fish and Shellfish Chart Only - Spanish Advice About Eating Fish and Shellfish Chart Plus Questions and Answers Buy, Store and Serve Safe Food for Buffets or the Holiday Season Choose Fish and Shellfish Wisely Should I Eat the Fish I Catch Choose Fish and Shellfish Wisely Should I Eat the Fish I Catch - Spanish Cooking for Groups and Holiday Food Safety in the Kitchen Food Safety for Safe Handling When Getting Takeout or Delivery Grill it Safe Food Safety Card Grill it Safe When Cooking Outdoors Food Safety E-Card Handling Food Safely While Eating Outdoors Handling Food Safely While Eating Outdoors - Spanish Healthy Guests Happy Holidays Food Safety Flyer Holiday Food Safety Brochure Keeping Bag Lunches Safe From Bacteria That Cause Foodborne Illness Keeping Bag Lunches Safe From Bacteria That Cause Foodborne Illness - Spanish Meal Prep Lists of Dos and Don’ts Food Safety from the Grocery Cart to the Refrigerator New and Improved Nutrition Facts Label New and Improved Nutrition Facts Label - Spanish Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fact Sheet for Consumers Refrigerator and Freezer Storage Chart Selecting and Serving Fresh and Frozen Seafood Safely Selecting and Serving Produce Safely Selecting and Serving Produce Safely- Spanish Shopping and Storage Lists of Dos And Don’ts Food Safety from the Grocery Cart to the Refrigerator Tailgating Food Safety Q & A Test Your Safety Knowledge About Ready-to-Cook Foods Thanksgiving Holiday Food Safety Information The Raw Story Frozen Chicken Entrees for Food Safety Turkey Thawing Hints from the National Turkey Federation 
What is a Serving Size Graphic What You Need to Know About Juice Safety What You Need to Know About Juice Safety - Spanish {/sliders-whatever}
-whatever Download Food Safety Educational Infographics
5 Steps to Clean Your Refrigerator About Cooking for Groups Food Safety Infographic Be a Germ Stopper Cover Your Cough Flyer Be a Germ Stopper Cover Your Cough Flyer - Spanish Check the Cheese, Avoid Listeria Infographic Check the Cheese, Avoid Listeria Infographic - Spanish Food Safety in the Kitchen Infographic Fruit and Vegetable Safety Infographic Fruit and Vegetable Safety Infographic - Spanish Get Ready to Grill Safely Infographic Get Ready to Grill Safely Infographic - Spanish Graphics About Food Safety Graphics About Food Safety - Spanish In an Emergency Food Safety in the Kitchen Infographic Keeping Food Safe A Global Responsibility Infographic Raw Milk, Know the Raw Facts Rules of the Game for Food Safety Infographic Rules of the Game for Food Safety Infographic - Spanish Safety Tips for Handling and Preparing Common Foods Infographic The Food Production Chain Safety Infographic The Raw Story – Frozen Chicken Entrees {/sliders-whatever}
Download Handwashing Activities, Worksheets, Posters and Videos
Handwashing Educational Downloads
-whatever Download Handwashing Activities
About Global Handwashing Day About Global Handwashing Day Advocacy Toolkit About Global Handwashing Day Hand Hygiene Why How and When Brochure Food Safety Handwashing Story Activity Placemat Printable Page 8x14 or 11x17 Handwashing Activity Worksheets Handwashing Chart Handwashing Fight Germs Wash Your Hands Video Teaching Young Children Handwashing Family Guide Wash Hands Video - Spanish Washing Hands Safety Fact Sheet Washing Hands Safety Fact Sheet - Spanish What You Should Know The Latest on Hand Sanitizers Video What You Should Know The Latest on Hand Sanitizers Video - Spanish {/sliders-whatever}
-whatever Download Scrub Club Activity Worksheets
Scrub Club 6 Steps Hand Washing Bathroom Poster Scrub Club Cast of Characters Scrub Club Cast of Characters - Spanish Scrub Club Gel-Mo on the Go Hand Washing Storybook Scrub Club Hand Washing Coloring Pages Scrub Club Hand Washing Coloring Pages - Spanish Scrub Club Handango Clean Hands Activity Worksheet - Spanish Scrub Club Handango Clean Hands Activity Worksheets Scrub Club Handwashing Activity Worksheets Scrub Club Influenza Enzo Wanted Poster Scrub Club Influenza Enzo Wanted Poster - Spanish Scrub Club Villains Poster Scrub Club Villains Poster - Spanish 
Scrub Club Wallpaper 1024x768 Scrub Club Wallpaper 800x600 {/sliders-whatever}
-whatever Download Handwashing Educational Posters
Be a Germ Stopper at School and Home Poster for Boys Be a Germ Stopper at School and Home Poster for Girls Do Not Forget How-to Handwashing Safety Information Poster 1 Do Not Forget How-to Handwashing Safety Information Poster 2 Do Not Touch the TZONE with Your Hands Safety Information Poster Hand Awareness Safety Information Poster Handwashing Poster 1 Handwashing Poster 2 Handwashing Poster 3 Temperature Affect Germs Safety Information Poster What Germs Could Do To Your Hands Safety Information Poster {/sliders-whatever}
