Don't let your eyes deceive you. Consumers need to rely on more than the color of cooked meat to know when it is ready to be served and eaten. But how do you know if that juicy, luscious burger is ready to be smothered in ketchup and slapped on a bun?

Thermy™ to the Rescue!

Thermy™ is the centerpiece character of a new food safety education campaign developed to promote the use of food thermometers by the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (FSIS/USDA). Food thermometers should be standard equipment in every consumer's kitchen. They help ensure that food is cooked to a safe interior temperature and prevent overcooking. According to the results of a 1998 Consumer Food Safety Survey conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and FSIS/USDA, less than half of American consumers own food thermometers. Of those who do, only 3 percent use them when preparing burgers or other foods at home.

You can find a wide variety of food thermometers at your local supermarket. The cost and understanding of how to use a meat thermometer are worthwhile when it comes to food safety for your family. Don't let Thermy™ down; start using food thermometers today! Just remember "It's Safe to Bite When the Temperature is Right!" For more information on Thermy™ and the food thermometer campaign, call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 800-535-4555, or visit the website at www.fsis.usda.gov/thermy.