What is the best way to prevent foodborne illness?

Cooking food to the appropriate temperature and practicing proper hygiene is the most effective way to prevent foodborne illness because it addresses two critical aspects of food safety: temperature control and personal cleanliness. Cooking food to safe temperatures helps kill harmful bacteria and viruses that can cause illness, ensuring that pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli are eliminated. Each type of food has its own specific safe minimum cooking temperature, and adhering to these standards is essential in preventing illness.

In addition, practicing proper hygiene involves not only washing hands frequently and correctly but also maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen and among food handlers. This includes proper handwashing before and after handling food, using clean utensils and surfaces, and avoiding cross-contamination. Together, these practices form a comprehensive approach to food safety that significantly reduces the risk of foodborne infections.

The other choices do not provide a holistic approach to food safety. Washing hands only at the beginning of food preparation fails to account for the fact that hands can become contaminated at multiple points during the cooking process. Relying exclusively on pre-packaged foods overlooks the possibility of contamination during processing or storage. Storing all food in the freezer can preserve some items but does not address the need for proper cooking temperatures to eliminate pathogens effectively.