KITCHEN SAFETY TIPS FROM GOOD COOK

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA (November 1, 2001) - The kitchen can be a dangerous place, even for the most experienced cooks. Good Cook™ wants to remind everyone that taking few simple precautions while cooking can help prevent sickness and injury in the kitchen.

Use a Food Thermometer
Meat, poultry and eggs may contain harmful food borne bacteria that is only killed when the food reaches specific internal temperatures. Thermy, a character created by the USDA to promote the use of food thermometers reminds everyone that using a food thermometer is the only way to know if the food is truly safe. Thermometers are available in a variety of styles, such as the Good Cook Electronic Digital Thermometer, which provides an accurate readout in seconds, and can be used for anything from chicken baked in the oven to burgers on the grill. For items like roasts and whole turkeys, Thermy recommends a heat-resistant device that can be kept in the oven during cooking, like the Good Cook Stainless Steel Meat Thermometer. Don't forget, Thermy says: "It's safe to bite when the temperature is right!"

Use a Refrigerator Thermometer
This year's theme for National Food Safety Education is "Be Cool- Chill Out! Refrigerate Promptly!" Emphasizing the importance of keeping perishable foods out of the "Danger Zone" where harmful bacteria grows, the USDA highlights the importance of keeping the refrigerator below 40°F, and the freezer at 0°F or below. To ensure your refrigerator is accurate, use a refrigerator thermometer in both the freezer and refrigerator compartments to either periodically check temperatures, or keep them in at all times for on-going peace of mind.

Avoid Cross Contamination
The Good Cook 4-Pack Flex Cutting Mats are an excellent way to avoid transferring bacteria from one food to another. These multi-colored mats are made of non-porous plastic, which allows bacteria to be easily wiped clean. By designating each color mat for a certain type of food (e.g. red for beef, yellow for poultry, green for vegetables and blue for pork) the risk of vegetables being contaminated by raw poultry is eliminated. These cutting mats are also flexible making it easy to funnel sliced foods directly into the pot or bowl.

Bradshaw International, headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, markets a wide assortment of kitchen tools and gadgets, bakeware, food storage, tabletop and cookware products. Marketed under the Good Cook™ brand name, Bradshaw has the number one market share for kitchenware in grocery stores. Bradshaw currently distributes over one hundred million pieces a year, with distribution in the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia. For information, consumers can call 1-800-421-6290.