Memorial Day is Monday, so it’s time to play, blame the consumer.

Foodborne illness outbreaks have been a regular feature in the news lately and are top of mind when consumers think of food and health issues, but new International Food Information Council Foundation research shows that fewer people are taking basic precautions that could significantly reduce their risk of becoming sick.

Are consumers supposed to cook their peanut butter? Extra roast those pistachios? Sauté the leafy greens and cook the tomatoes?

The survey results are based on self-reported behaviors – do you wash your hands, yes I wash my hands, but not really – so should be immediately consigned to the garbage-in-garbage-out bin.

My favorite question of late is to ask audiences of VP food safety types and other titans of industry how many of them use a digital, tip-sensitive thermometer when they grill chicken breast or burgers for their friends and family, since they are quality control types and really care about data.

Guess it’s follow what I preach, not what I practice.