Enjoying Outdoor Cooking, Without the Unwanted Visitors

16 June 2011

DOUG JOHNSON: Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English.

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I'm Doug Johnson. On our program this week, we listen to new music by Death Cab for Cutie …

And answer a question about a famous actor …

But first, some expert advice about cooking outdoors.

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Food Safety for Outdoor Cooks

This Sunday, many American fathers will get gifts from their families in honor of Father's Day. Some men may be hoping for a shiny new grill to bring smoky, fiery happiness to cooking outdoors. More than half of all Americans say they cook outdoors throughout the year. But the warmer months bring more people outside. So this is a good time for food safety experts to fire up their efforts to educate the public. Faith Lapidus has our story.

FAITH LAPIDUS: Disease-control officials estimate that about one in six Americans get sick from food each year. One hundred thirty thousand have to go to a hospital for food poisoning. And three thousand die. Health officials say these numbers usually increase during this time of year as more Americans cook and eat outdoors.

Andrea Darlas got infected with salmonella bacteria after eating hummus at a food festival.

ANDREA DARLAS: "I was dehydrated. I had a high fever, chills."

She was lucky. A study found that salmonella was the leading cause of death from food-borne diseases in the United States between two thousand and two thousand eight.