Americans suffering "diet disconnect".

• Position: Nutrition

More than three-quarters of Americans say they are confident in their ability to prepare food safely, yet many report not following simple procedures to reduce the spread of bacteria in their kitchen or ensure safe cooking temperatures. In particular, less than half report using separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry, or produce, and just 29% say they employ a meat thermometer.

These findings--in the third annual "Food Health Survey" conducted by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation, Washington, D.C.--are part of an extensive look at what Americans are doing regarding their eating and health habits. The contradiction or "disconnect" between consumers' beliefs and their own behavior toward safe food preparation is among seven overall "diet disconnections" identified in this extensive survey over the past two years. This year's new questions include general and microwave cooking practices.

"The gap between Americans' desire to do what's best when it comes to eating and what they actually do is going to take some time to bridge;' emphasizes Susan Borra, IFIC Foundation president and a registered dietician. "A new question added this year found that almost half of Americans think health information is 'confusing and conflicting,' which means there's a lot of work to do to break through the food information clutter out there and make nutrition advice practical."

Some 92% report washing their hands with soap and water when preparing food, and 79% maintain they store leftovers within two hours of serving. However, only 15% report checking the wattage on their microwaves, and a mere seven percent state they use a meat thermometer when using their microwaves. "Consumers...