Launched in October 1997 with a national kick-off event featuring the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, the Fight BAC!® campaign is the product of the Partnership for Food Safety Education, a unique public-private partnership of industry, government and consumer groups dedicated to increasing awareness of food safety and reducing the incidence of foodborne illness. Through this public education campaign, a focused and more unified program is available to consumers, who share in the responsibility of safe food handling.

Preventing foodborne illness remains a major public health challenge and the campaign's four messages about safe food handling provide consumers with simple, easy steps they can take to reduce their risk of illness. These messages were tested to ensure they would resonate well with consumers. BAC!, the big, green bacteria character, serves as the focal point of the campaign and helps put a "face" on invisible foodborne bacteria.

Since the campaign was launched, BAC! and the Partnership have been busy spreading the word about safe food handling.