Note to Editors: With USDA conducting a recall of millions of pounds of hamburger patties, more Americans are wondering whether the food they eat has potentially deadly E. coli bacteria and what to do about it. The National Consumers League has a free new brochure that gives consumers advice on how to make sure the food their families eat -- particularly those with small children or elderly people -- isn't tainted with harmful bacteria.

FREE BROCHURE OFFERS ADVICE ON FIGHTING GERMS

Washington, D.C. -- Many American consumers worry about food safety and the possibility that the food they purchase may be contaminated and end up harming their families. To help people understand the problem of food-borne disease and the control of household germs, the National Consumers League created a comprehensive brochure called Keep It Safe, Keep It Clean.

It provides safety tips for shopping, storing, serving, preparing, and cooking foods, and has a fold-out chart explaining common bacteria and how it spreads. NCL's brochure also describes infectious diseases and their symptoms, the health effects of common germs, and how to properly disinfect surfaces in your home.

"Consumers can play an important role in keeping food safe from dangerous food-borne illnesses such as E. coli bacteria," said Linda F. Golodner, National Consumers League president. "And one of the best ways to do that is to arm yourself with information."

The brochure was produced with S.T.O.P., Safe Tables Our Priority, a nonprofit group formed in 1993 by parents and friends of victims of E. coli 0157:17 and other food-borne diseases.

For a copy of the brochure, contact the National Consumers League, 1701 K Street, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20006. For information on bulk copies, contact NCL at (202) 835-3323.