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I am a Food Network fanatic. I love watching the chefs on this network work their magic with the different foods. In addition, I learn an awful lot from their shows. My cooking has improved tremendously since I began observing the little tips and techniques demonstrated on the shows.

Paula Dean is my favorite. Then there are the cute couples such as the ones on Down Home With the Neeleys. On TVOne, I find that I love the soul food cooking antics and cooking skills demonstrated by the chef of Turn Up the Heat with Garvin.

While the chefs are preparing food, I do understand and realize that this is television. The chefs of the shows are aware that millions of viewers are watching their every move. It is great to see their kitchen gadgets and cookware, but people are not interested in designer fashions of these stars. Viewers major interest and the reason for tuning in is to improve their cooking skills, learn how to prepare dishes with appeal and taste, understand the how's and when to use certain foods and pick up a few tips on how to prepare a meal.

There are millions of individuals who tune in regularly who have no idea about cooking hygiene. They watch intensely every move the chef makes. The actions each chef demonstrates is potentially molding the future method used by some when preparing food.

Not only should each chef be very aware of their attire while cooking, they must also be very aware of every move they make. For example, one of the most popular of the day time chefs has a garden in her back yard. While preparing a meal, it is nothing for her to scoot out to the garden and pick a fresh tomato from the bush, snip off a few sprigs of parsley or clip a bay leaf. She will then rush right back into the kitchen and begin to chop the tomato, parsley or bay leaf never indicating that she washes it first before chopping and placing it into her dish.

In another cooking session, I observed a chef with her pet dog in the kitchen with her while she prepared a meal. She took a quick second, introduced the pet, patted him on the back and then with that same hand, she went right back to preparing her dish.

These are things I hope the outcry from the audience has brought attention to the hygienic actions of the chefs and made network executives understand: Hygiene is imperative.

Never should a chef be caught without proper attire, petting an animal, demonstrating any unclean actions on their show.

I think it is vital that all chefs set an example for the audience while demonstrating their culinary skills. Just as we need to be more aware of what we are teaching our kids in school, we must also be aware of what we are teaching our cooks of tomorrow.

A message to the Network chefs: We love you! Our meals have grown so much more favorable and appealing since seeing the actual preparations on television. Now show us how to make sure the food prepared is prepared in a manner in which is appropriate from beginning to end.

Learn more about this author, Claire Voyant.
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