Four Simple Steps to Prevent Food Poisoning

(StatePoint) Food poisoning, an illness caused by bacteria or other pathogens in food, causes an estimated 48 million illnesses (representing one out of six Americans), 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths annually in the U.S., according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics.

With proper food safety practices you can lower your risk substantially, say experts.

“Whether whipping up dinner from scratch or simply reheating leftovers, there are important food safety practices you must remember,” says registered dietitian nutritionist and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson Joan Salge Blake.