The Partnership for Food Safety Education has joined forces with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to launch the Be Food Safe campaign.

The initiative gives consumers safe food handling messages: Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill.

The news release from the Partnership for Food Safety says people should wash hands, utensils and cutting boards before and after contact with raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs; keep raw meat, poultry and seafood apart from foods that won't be cooked; use a food thermometer; and chill leftovers and takeout foods within two hours and keep the fridge at 40 degrees F or below.

The campaign is in response to recent research that says consumers aren't aware of the prevalence of foodborne illness, potentially putting themselves at greater risk for contracting such an illness.

Be Food Safe education materials, along with the popular “Fight BAC!” food safety education materials are available at www.fightbac.org .