title: Food safety in home kitchens: a synthesis of the literature.
abstract: Although foodborne illness is preventable, more than 56,000 people per year become ill in the U.S., creating high economic costs, loss of productivity and reduced quality of life for many. Experts agree that the home is the primary location where foodborne outbreaks occur; however, many consumers do not believe the home to be a risky place. Health care professionals need to be aware of consumers' food safety attitudes and behaviors in the home and deliver tailored food safety interventions that are theory-based. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to synthesize/summarize the food safety literature by examining the following: consumers' perceptions and attitudes towards food safety and their susceptibility to foodborne illness in the home, work, and school; common risky food safety practices and barriers to handling food safely; and the application of theory-based food safety interventions. Findings will help healthcare professionals become more aware of consumers' food safety attitudes and behaviors and serve to inform future food safety interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers University, 26 Nichol Avenue, 211 Davison Hall, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. bredbenner@aesop.rutgers.edu
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Byrd-Bredbenner
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berning
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martin-Biggers
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Quick
mesh_terms: D003296:Cooking; D005511:Food Handling; D059022:Food Safety; D005517:Foodborne Diseases; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D012574:Schools; D017132:Workplace