National Food Safety Education Month empowers Mobile County residents and food establishments to prevent illness 09.10.26

September 10, 2026

National Food Safety Education Month empowers Mobile County residents and food establishments to prevent illness

MOBILE, Ala. — September is National Food Safety Education Month, an opportunity for individuals, families, and food-service professionals to take an active role in preventing foodborne illness.

Safe food handling begins long before a meal reaches the table. Washing hands, preventing cross-contamination, cooking foods to safe temperatures, refrigerating perishable foods promptly, and properly cleaning and sanitizing food-contact surfaces are everyday actions that can help protect the health of the community.

“National Food Safety Education Month is an opportunity to empower individuals and communities to take an active role in preventing foodborne illness,” said Dr. Kevin Michaels, Health Officer for Mobile County. “Food safety is a shared responsibility. Whether preparing a meal at home, operating a restaurant, serving food at a community event, or caring for children and older adults, each of us has an important role in reducing risk.”

The Mobile County Health Department’s Inspection Services division works throughout the year with retail food establishments, mobile and temporary food units, and other regulated facilities to promote safe practices and help prevent illnesses associated with contaminated food and beverages. The department also conducts inspections and provides education designed to support compliance with state and local food-safety requirements.

Foodborne illness can result from a variety of unsafe practices, including inadequate handwashing, cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat foods, improper cooking, unsafe cooling or holding temperatures, and failure to clean and sanitize equipment and work surfaces. Education and routine refresher training help food-service employees recognize these risks and take practical steps to prevent them.

As of September 5, Mobile County had reported provisional cases of several enteric diseases, including 86 cases of campylobacteriosis, 35 cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), 17 cases of shigellosis, 11 cases of cryptosporidiosis, five cases of cyclosporiasis, 11 cases of vibriosis, and one case of listeriosis. These figures reinforce the importance of safe food and water practices throughout the community.

MCHD encourages residents and food establishments to keep these four food-safety principles in mind:

•  Clean: Wash hands with soap and water before, during, and after preparing food. Clean and sanitize utensils, cutting boards, countertops, and food-contact surfaces.
•  Separate: Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs separate from foods that are ready to eat. Use separate cutting boards and utensils when possible.
•  Cook: Cook foods to appropriate internal temperatures and avoid serving foods that are undercooked.
•  Chill: Refrigerate perishable foods promptly, maintain proper cold-holding temperatures, and cool prepared foods safely.

“Strong food-safety practices protect customers, employees, families, and businesses,” Dr. Michaels said. “Training, accountability, and attention to the basics can prevent illness and strengthen public confidence in our local food-service industry.”

MCHD’s Inspection Services division is available to assist food establishments with food-safety education and sanitation guidance. For more information, visit https://mchd.org/environmental-health/#Inspection-Services or call 251-690-8116.