May 17, 2001

How can middle and high school science teachers learn to incorporate food science into their courses? By visiting a new FDA web site geared especially toward them! FDA and its partner, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), are working together to teach students the importance of understanding food microbiology and safe food handling. Visit the site at http://www.foodsafety.gov/~fsg/teach.html.

Why should teachers teach food safety? Because teens can play an important role in preventing some of the 76 million cases of foodborne illness that occur each year. Teens are often employed by food service establishments, or help with food preparation in the home. Students taught food safety in the classroom will not only be safer food handlers, but will also have a better understanding of science and the careers available in the field.

The web site features easy to use tabs to direct teachers to a variety of information that they can use in the classroom, including:

• Free Supplementary Curriculum: Science and Our Food Supply, developed in conjunction with NSTA, is a free supplementary curriculum including an interactive video, reference guide with A-Z information on food science, and teachers guide featuring lab experiments and activities. On-line ordering is available for middle school and high school teachers.
  
• Professional Development Program: FDA and NSTA provide a hands-on summer workshop for science teachers. Updated application information for the 2002 workshops will be posted in the fall.
  
• Careers: A career in food science might be in the students' futures after visiting the "Food Safety Careers" link. Sixteen food scientists in a variety of fields including epidemiology, research and education explain how they got interested in food science, the exciting discoveries they've made, and the secrets to their success.
  
• Trivia: Students and teachers alike can test their food safety knowledge by playing the "Lose a Million Bacteria" trivia game, which can be played online or printed off the web for use in the classroom.
  
• Food Safety Advice: This link hits on several food safety issues including food preparation and storage, and recognizing the symptoms of a foodborne illness.
  
• Resources: Click your way to a variety of food science information, including information on careers, government sites, hand-washing, irradiation, outbreak investigation, and other related topics.
  

Hypertext updated by cjm/dms 2001-MAY-22