International Food Safety Council September 1999 * National Food Safety Education MonthSM Sample Press Release for State Governor Proclamation

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If your governor has declared September Food Safety Education Month in your state, publicize the Proclamation by sending this press release and a copy of the Proclamation to consumer media in your state.

Before sending the release to the media:

1. Make sure the proclamation is sent directly to your organization. Arrange to have a photo taken of the proclamation with representatives from your organization and the other Food Safety Education Month partners who worked on getting it. Send a copy of the photo along with the release, or offer it to the media upon request.

2. Re-type the release double-spaced on your letterhead; use the artwork provided in this Guide to add the National Food Safety Education Month^SM logo to your letterhead.

3. Fill in the information in parentheses throughout.

4. Add further information about your National Food Safety Education Month programs and activities sponsored by your organization or retail food establishments.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: (Contact name, phone number)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Date)

In support of (State's) commitment to public health, Governor (Name) has declared September Food Safety Education Month in (State). The month-long observance focuses attention on the importance of safe food handling in professional kitchens and at home.

The (State) observance is part of a national initiative in which the restaurant and food industry, government and consumer organizations are working together to enhance food safety from the farm to the table. Key components of the initiative are public education and food safety training for restaurant, foodservice and supermarket professionals.

Held annually in September, National Food Safety Education Month^SM was created in 1995 by the International Food Safety Council, a restaurant and foodservice industry coalition dedicated to food safety education. Restaurants, foodservice operations, supermarkets, hospitality associations, colleges and universities, state and local health departments and USDA extension agents in (State) and across the country participate in National Food Safety Education Month in a variety of ways each year.

"We take our commitment to food safety in (State) very seriously," said (Organization spokesperson), (Title), of (Organization). "Through Food Safety Education Month in (State), we want to make people aware that one of the most important steps to preventing foodborne illness is to cook food to the proper internal temperature. That's why this year's theme is "Cook It Safely - It's a Matter of Degrees. "

In honor of Food Safety Education Month in (State), (Organization) is (include details about your organization's plans and activities.)

The International Food Safety Council, a restaurant and foodservice industry coalition, was formed in 1993 by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. Restaurant, foodservice and supermarket professionals trained and certified in food safety are eligible to participate in the Council and display the Council seal in their establishments to show customers that they are committed to serving safe food. The Council is also a founding partner of the Partnership for Food Safety Education, a coalition of industry, government and consumer organizations, which sponsors the Fight BAC!^TM nationwide education campaign to teach the public to keep food safe from bacteria. (Boilerplate information about your organization.)

 
^TM/SM International Food Safety Council
* Distributed August 1999 for use in September 1999 as part of the International Food Safety Council's National Food Safety Education Month.

National Food Safety Education MonthSM is sponsored by the International Food Safety Council, a restaurant and foodservice industry coalition committed to food safety education, formed by the National Restaurant Association's Educational Foundation. For more information about enrolling in the Council free of charge, call 800/456-0111.