Editors Note: September is National Food Safety Education Month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Amy Schneider 314/982-8638

Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 76 million people become sick, more than 300,000 are hospitalized, and 5,000 die each year from foodborne illness. Most of these illnesses could have been prevented through safe food handling, cooking and storage at home.

As we enter National Food Safety Education Month this September, Wal-Mart is teaming up with the Partnership for Food Safety Education's Fight BAC!^TM campaign to get consumers thinking about safety when they're thinking about food. This weekend, Wal-Mart Supercenters throughout the country will provide customers with tips and tools to help them "Fight BAC!^TM" against harmful foodborne bacteria when preparing meals at home for their families.

"While the United States food supply is among the safest in the world, harmful bacteria can still find its way into our kitchens," said Melanie Miller, executive director of the Partnership and its Fight BAC!^TM campaign. "Wal-Mart's activities with the Partnership will help millions of consumers arm themselves against avoidable foodborne illness."

"The goal of this alliance between Wal-Mart and the Partnership for Food Safety Education is to empower consumers to take action against foodborne illness," said Bruce Peterson, senior vice president/general merchandise manager-perishables for Wal-Mart. "By following a few simple steps, consumers can reduce their risk of getting sick when preparing meals for their families."

The "Fight BAC!" campaign advises consumers to follow four golden rules for food safety:

Clean: Simple as it sounds, washing everything including hands with soap and water is one of the most effective bacteria busters. The CDC estimates proper hand washing could eliminate almost half of all cases of foodborne illness. Selecting the right tools also can help. A University of Arizona study found the average used kitchen sponge harbors some 7.2 billion bacteria. Don't forget to use a clean town to wipe clean hands. A recent Fight BAC!^TM study showed that one in five Americans use a dirty towel to wipe clean hands. Consider paper towels and non-porous cutting boards to eliminate some favorite germ breeding grounds.

Separate: Cross-contamination is how bacteria spreads from one food to another. It's especially important to keep raw meats and their juices away from ready to eat food. For example, never bring in the barbecued burgers on the same platter that was used to transport the raw patties to the grill.

Cook: Experts agree that harmful bacteria can't take the heat. Cooking food to safe internal temperatures can kill potentially harmful bacteria; thus making food safe to eat. A food thermometer takes the guesswork out of safely cooking meat. When using the microwave, rotating and stirring dishes can help avoid potential cold spots that could also harbor bacteria. Liquid leftovers such as soups and gravies should be reheated to a boil; other leftovers reheated to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chill: Don't leave the casserole on the counter. Refrigerate foods within two hours to keep bacteria from multiplying. Divide food into shallow containers. A packed fridge doesn't allow cooling air to circulate. Finally, make sure the refrigerator is at 40 degrees and the freezer is at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Nearly a quarter of consumers' refrigerators are not kept cold enough.

For more helpful tips on food safety and suggestions on household products to use and those to avoid when battling bacteria, visit www.walmartstores.com and click on the food safety tips icon. Brochures are also available in the grocery departments of Wal-Mart Supercenters nationwide.

Fight BAC!^TM is a national consumer education campaign sponsored by the Partnership for Food Safety Education, a coalition of industry, government and consumer groups. The campaign is designed to teach consumers about the importance of food safety and reduce the incidence of foodborne illness. For more information on how to fight foodborne bacteria and handle food safely, visit www.fightbac.org.

With annual sales of $191 billion, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates more than 2,600 discount stores, Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets, and more than 480 SAM'S CLUBS in the United States. Internationally, the company operates more than 1,080 units. Wal-Mart employs 962,000 associates in the United States and 282,000 in other countries. The company's securities are listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol WMT. Last year Wal-Mart associates raised and contributed more than $190 million to support communities and local non-profit organizations. FORTUNE magazine has named Wal-Mart the third "most admired" company in America and one of the 100 best companies to work for in the United States, and Americans named Wal-Mart the company they think of first in supporting local causes and issues, according to Cone, Inc. More information about Wal-Mart can be located on-line at http://www.walmartstores.com. The SAM'S CLUB Web site can be accessed at http://www.samsclub.com. And more information about Wal-Mart's Good.Works. community involvement is available online at http://www.walmartfoundation.org.