Foodborne illness is a significant public health issue in the United States. One of every six Americans is affected by foodborne pathogens. Foodborne illness also creates a big economic burden to the United States with tens of billions of dollars in losses.

Temperature control is essential to prevent the rapid growth of foodborne pathogens during storage. Preparing food using thermometers correctly to ensure that it is cooked well enough to eliminate pathogens and bacteria could prevent some illness.

A recent study from Purdue researchers show one major factor why people don’t use thermometers is that celebrity chefs and others in the know rarely mention the importance of proper temperatures.

Joining me to look at this issue is Yaohua "Betty" Feng, PhD, Dr Feng is an Assistant Professor of Food Science at Purdue University.