How Food Ingredients Get The Green Light
September 10, 2025
Food Safety
What are the best practices for safe food handling? What is foodborne illness, and how can it be prevented? The IFIC Food Safety Toolkit offers practical, science-based resources to help answer common questions about food safety. From understanding the regulations that protect our food supply to making sense of food labels and proper storage, this toolkit helps build knowledge and support everyday conversations about food safety.
Key Messages
Food safety starts with science-based practices that help reduce the risk of foodborne illness and promote health and wellbeing. These key messages are designed to support clear, confident communication − whether you’re answering questions from consumers, developing content, or having one-on-one conversations.
- What is a foodborne illness? Eating foods or beverages contaminated from bacteria, viruses or parasites can cause foodborne illness. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and/or fever and typically appear within hours or days after consumption.[1]
- It’s possible to reduce your risk of foodborne illness with safe food handling practices. Wash your hands often, use separate cutting boards for raw meat and produce, cook foods to their safe internal temperature and refrigerate foods promptly.[2]
- Food safety is a daily practice. Follow the “Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill” steps every time food is prepared.[2] Plus, remember that—except for infant formula—“Use by” or “Best by” dates are an estimate of how long a product will keep at its best quality, not an indication of safety. Be sure to check the “Use by” or “Best by” date to ensure quality before you throw food out.[3]
Research
IFIC consumer research shows that foodborne illness is a top food safety concern for consumers. Take a closer look at consumer perceptions and behaviors to help understand the best ways to address questions about food safety.
IFIC Spotlight Survey: Americans’ Perceptions Of Food Recalls
Learn MoreIFIC Spotlight Survey: Americans’ Perceptions Of The U.S. FDA GRAS Program
Learn More2025 IFIC Food & Health Survey: A Focus On Food & Ingredient Safety
Learn MoreIFIC Spotlight Survey: Americans’ Perceptions Of Food Date Labeling
Learn MoreIFIC Spotlight Survey: Americans’ Perceptions Of Food Ingredient Safety
Learn MoreIFIC Spotlight Survey: Trends, Habits & Attitudes Related To Food Safety
Learn MoreResources
Whether it’s navigating a food recall, understanding ingredient safety or keeping your fridge safe during a power outage, food safety questions come up in everyday life. These expert-authored pieces dive into the real-world issues that shape how we grow, handle, store and trust the food we eat.
To Toss or Not To Toss: What You Should Do If Your Food Is Recalled
September 12, 2023
Food Safety Precautions During Extreme Weather
August 31, 2017
Webinars
Food safety is top of mind for many consumers, especially when it comes to trusting the integrity of food supply and preventing foodborne illness. These IFIC Expert Webinars address key topics in food safety and offer science-based guidance you can use in your work.
Social Media Inspiration
Effective food safety communication starts with clear, easy-to-understand messages, especially on social media. Use these sample posts to help share science-based tips on preventing foodborne illness, safe food handling, storage and more.
Food Safety During Extreme Weather
Food Safety for Kids
In the News
From raw milk to moldy food, food safety questions often make headlines. Explore media coverage featuring IFIC experts as they break down common concerns and share science-based guidance.
- Reader’s Digest How long does canned food really last?
- HUM Nutrition Blog What’s the deal with raw milk – and is it actually safe and healthy?
- Huffington Post Does one bad apple really spoil the bunch? Here’s what to do with rotten, moldy food
- Martha Stewart 9 ingredients you didn’t know you could store in your freezer – including eggs and leftover wine