The consumer reheating instructions are particularly important, says TIME health reporter Janice Horowitz, because the department is still relying essentially on voluntary compliance by the industry -- though expectations are that the bad publicity generated by listeria outbreaks in the past will prompt manufacturers to quickly follow the Agriculture Departments recommendations. Last year, for example, 21 people died and more than 100 fell sick from a listeria contamination that prompted a recall of some Sara Lee meat products. For optimum food safety, says Horowitz, thorough cooking of all meats -- not just pre-cooked meats -- is the most effective way to get rid of disease-causing bacteria that may have gotten past a plant inspection. "That means reheat hot dogs," she says, "dont serve red meat rare, and make sure poultry is cooked to the bone with no pink left."
Feds Put the Heat on Those Holiday Hot Dogs
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As Americans anticipate the cookouts of Memorial Day weekend, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is turning up the heat on meat plants to make those holiday hot dogs safer for consumers. The Department asked manufacturers to develop plans in the next month to test for the deadly listeria bacteria in frankfurters and other pre-cooked meats; the Department also said it would launch an education campaign urging consumers, especially expectant mothers and the elderly, to thoroughly heat such foods before eating them.