Reading Skills for Today's Adults

Steve loves to spend time in the kitchen. He enjoys cooking. He hosts many parties throughout the year. Some of his best times are spent preparing large meals for his friends. Holiday times and weekends mean lots of food and fun for Steve.

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Steve wants all of his guests to enjoy his food and to stay healthy. He is aware of the need to keep his food fresh and safe to eat. Millions of people get foodborne illnesses each year. Some even die. In fact, foodborne illnesses cause thousands of deaths each year. Food born illness is a sickness that results from eating food that contains harmful bacteria.

Steve washes his hands with soap and warm water for a full twenty seconds before and after handling raw foods. He also washes his cutting boards with soap and warm water after each use. He knows that wiping off the cutting board with a dry cloth is not enough to keep his food safe.

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Steve keeps his kitchen counters clean. He does not want germs from the counter to get into his food. He uses hot water, soap, and clean dishcloths to wash his counters. Steve washes his sponges in hot, soapy water and microwaves them for two minutes to kill some germs. He knows that bacteria thrive in those moist places where bits of food exist. In fact, the average kitchen sponge harbors more than seven billion bacteria! 

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Steve keeps his hands and food spaces clean. He wants to keep both his friends and himself safe from foodborne illnesses. Good, safe food means happy and healthy guests.