September is National Food Safety Education Month, an opportunity to remind families that a few basic practices can significantly reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
Food safety matters in every household, but it can be especially important for families with young children, older adults, and people whose health conditions make them more vulnerable to serious complications from foodborne illness.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture promotes four fundamental food-safety practices:
Clean. Separate. Cook. Chill.
Clean
Good food safety begins with clean hands, utensils, preparation surfaces, and equipment.
Hands should be washed thoroughly before and after handling food. Cutting boards, countertops, knives, and other utensils should also be cleaned appropriately, particularly after contact with raw meat, poultry, seafood, or eggs.
Separate
Cross-contamination occurs when bacteria or other contaminants move from one food or surface to another.
Raw meats and their juices should be kept separate from cooked or ready-to-eat foods. Using separate cutting boards or thoroughly washing equipment between tasks can help reduce cross-contamination.
Cook
Appearance alone cannot reliably determine whether certain foods have reached a safe temperature.
USDA recommends using a food thermometer and following safe minimum internal-temperature guidance appropriate for the food being prepared.
Chill
Refrigeration is another critical part of food safety.
USDA advises keeping refrigerators at 40°F or below and promptly refrigerating perishable food. Perishable foods generally should not remain at room temperature for more than two hours—or one hour when temperatures are above 90°F.
Food Safety and Community Action
Food safety is also connected to food security.
Families experiencing poverty may face circumstances that make safe food storage more challenging, including unreliable refrigeration, utility disruptions, inadequate kitchen facilities, or limited access to fresh groceries.
These conditions demonstrate why Community Action’s comprehensive approach matters.
Energy assistance can help families maintain refrigeration.
Weatherization can improve safe and stable housing.
Nutrition programs can improve access to healthy foods.
Emergency assistance can help households recover after disasters or utility disruptions.
Together, these services support not simply access to food, but access to safe, nutritious food in a stable home environment.
Learn. Prepare. Prevent.
During National Food Safety Education Month, the Community Action Association of Alabama encourages families to make the four basic steps part of everyday kitchen routines:
Clean. Separate. Cook. Chill.
Small habits can make an important difference in protecting children, seniors, families, and communities.