Dear Colleague,
This letter is to apprise members of the food safety community of the status of several education efforts under the President's Food Safety Initiative. We have fostered educational programs to address foodborne illness, in collaboration with other federal, state and local governments, private organizations, consumer groups, and industry.
The incidence of foodborne illness continues to be a significant public health concern throughout the United States, in part because food preparers and handlers at each point of the food chain are not fully informed of risks and related safe-handling practices. Understanding and practicing proper food-safety techniques, such as thoroughly washing hands and cooking foods to proper temperatures, should significantly reduce foodborne illness.
The attached report highlights a number of activities specifically designed and initiated to address the educational needs of children, consumers, producers and the retail community.
We will continue to keep you advised of educational and other FSI activities throughout the coming year.
|
Sincerely yours,
Joseph A. Levitt |
Food Safety Initiative Education Efforts
FDA and USDA contracted with Macro International to research the K-12 school environment to assist in planning future school-based education activities. The report, titled USDA/FDA Education Initiatives: Evaluating the Placement of Food Safety Education in Schools, found that food safety education was viewed by education experts as an important topic for students to study, though not a high priority issue at present. The research indicated that science would be the most effective subject area and that middle and high school would be the most appropriate grade levels for food safety education.
Based on the results of the evaluation of the placement of food safety education in schools, FDA is collaborating with USDA and the National Science Teachers Association to develop a new food science supplemental curriculum aimed at middle and high school students. The project incorporates the farm-to-table, production-consumption chain in a science-based education program. Students will learn the significance of bacteria in foodborne illness and learn methods to reduce related health risks. The program will include an interactive web site, an introductory videotape, and a printed teacher's guide with learning activities. The program will meet the National Science Standards for educational content. The program is expected to be ready for distribution to schools in September 1999.
FDA/CFSAN is working with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) to develop information for seniors on food safety. The project will support the United Nation's observation of 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons. AARP has developed a program geared toward making seniors better able to manage independently in their own homes, and food safety is an important component in this effort.
September 1998 marked the celebration of the fourth annual National Food Safety Education Month (NFSEM). Launched by the restaurant and food service industry in 1995, NFSEM's primary goal is to focus public attention on foodborne illness and safe food handling practices that consumers and commercial food workers can follow to stay healthy. President Clinton's National Food Safety Initiative recognizes and encourages observance of NFSEM.
This year's theme was Keep It Clean, focusing on washing hands, utensils and kitchen surfaces often to prevent foodborne illness.
NFSEM Planning Guides, prepared by FDA and USDA , were distributed to Federal, state and local agency food safety educators and health organizations across the country received. The guides contained food safety information and ideas which could be used for NFSEM activities.
A National Media Event sponsored by the International Food Safety Council/National Restaurant Association and the U.S. Senate Restaurants, in cooperation with FDA, USDA, and the Partnership for Food Safety Education, was held in Washington, D.C. Following remarks by FDA/CFSAN and USDA/FSIS, the NFSEM National Chairperson and chef/owner of Restaurant Nora and Asian Nora demonstrated Keep It Clean techniques in the preparation kitchen of the Dirksen Senate Office Building restaurants.
A Selection of Grassroots Activities in Support of NFSEM
Food Safety Day at the Michigan State Fair - a partnership was formed between FDA and various state agencies to make this event possible. The BAC character participated in the parade and BAC magnets and plastic bags were distributed.
Meals-on-Wheels - Numerous food safety presentations to Meals-on-Wheels programs and senior centers in the San Francisco District area were delivered. The presentations focused on food microbiology and prevention of foodborne illness through proper food handling techniques. Fight BAC brochures were distributed at each location.
FDA Facts & Snacks - Developed an open house and exhibit program for employees and visitors to the Federal Court House in Raleigh, NC. The theme of the exhibit was food safety.
Puerto Rico Food Safety Initiative Partnership - FDA, the Puerto Rico Health Department, USDA/CSREES, and the Puerto Rico Department of Education formed a partnership and developed an extensive consumer education campaign. A Fight BAC! Poster, coloring book, comic book, press release, and food service quiz, all in Spanish, were widely distributed.
Asian Food Safety - Public Service Announcement (PSA), BAC brochure, and food safety slides were translated into various languages. The PSA, with subtitles in Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese, appeared on local TV shows in the Los Angeles District. Japanese and Korean BAC brochures were provided at the Tofu Festival. Food Safety slides were translated into Tagalog, Hindi and Vietnamese were developed and used in presentations.
Food Safety Teaching Aids - Developed food safety teaching aids for multi-cultural low income families, such as Latino farm-worker families and Vietnamese, Hmong, Laotian, and Cambodian speaking peoples.
Teaching Food Safety in the Home - Partnered with the Rutgers Department of Nutritional Sciences to develop seven research-based lessons for teaching food safety in the home to low-income families.
Through JIFSAN, initiated the development of a comprehensive interactive program in food safety integrating distance learning techniques and hands-on training activities.
FDA has signed an agreement with the American Medical Association (AMA) to develop a program to train physicians on foodborne disease and clinical microbiology and foodborne illnesses with non-traditional symptoms.
TV stations in 15 of the "Top 25" markets have aired the Fight BAC! Public service announcement (PSA).
The Fight BAC! Campaign has resulted in stories about the Partnership effort in newspapers with a circulation of approximately 12.5 million readers.
Community Action Kits and Supermarket Kits have been sent to local health departments and grocery stores with ideas on how to promote the Fight BAC! Campaign. A video conference was held by FDA and USDA that reached state and local health and education officials concerned with the prevention of foodborne illness. The discussion, among other things, included how to use the community action materials.
A "Presenter's Guide" to be used with a BAC! Puppet has been created for presentations at elementary schools. The guide includes songs and stories that teach about fighting BAC!.
A contract has been signed to develop a school-based educational curriculum supplement on food safety for students in grades 4 through 6.
The National Food Safety Information Network, formed in 1998 by FDA/CFSAN, USDA/FSIS and NAL/USDA, brings together the Federal Government's primary mechanism for providing food safety information to the public. The Network consists of:
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline,
CFSAN Outreach and Information Center,
USDA/FDA Foodborne Illness Education Information Center,
FoodSafety.gov web site,
EdNet, the National Food Safety Educator's Network, and
Foodsafe
CFSAN Information/Outreach Center is nearing completion and will be operationally in the upcoming months.
Other organizations, such as CDC and USDA/CSREES will be contacted to join the Network.
FDA launched a public awareness campaign on the risk that unpasteurized or untreated juices may present to vulnerable populations. The campaign targets the population sub-groups most vulnerable to the effects of infection. Educational materials include a press kit, consumer brochure, video new release and a public service announcement were distributed to health professionals, senior citizen groups, daycare centers, elementary schools, state PTA offices, and to media outlets. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), National AIDS Clearinghouse and Hotline, and the National Cancer Hotline also assisted in distribution of the information.
FDA issued an advisory that children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems should avoid eating raw alfalfa sprouts due to the increased risk of pathogens.
FDA convened a public meeting on the scope of the problem and possible solutions. Input gathered at the meeting from the public, consumer groups, academia and the industry will be incorporated into future agency policymaking on sprout safety.
For the first time, food safety educators from FDA, USDA, and CDC met to update one another on recent research in epidemiology, consumer knowledge and attitudes, trends in food safety behaviors, and to assess progress towards meeting food safety goals. The assessment of the current status of food safety risks and behaviors were used to identify further research needs and guide strategies for even more effective education in the future. Thirty participants from the three government agencies
FDA is working with USDA to develop an educational outreach program for the Good Agricultural Practices/Good Manufacturing Practices guidance for fresh fruits and vegetables. An education conference is scheduled for early 1999 that will bring together domestic and international producers and educators to discuss methods and opportunities for educating producers on the guidance.
An International Working Group of representatives from FDA, USDA, USTR, USAID, and the State Department has been organized to discuss technical assistance opportunities for foreign countries. A country by country infrastructure needs assessment will be part of the 1999 international and domestic producer education conference.
FDA has joined with other federal agencies, industry associations, academia, state/local regulatory associations, and consumer representatives in establishing the "Food Safety Training and Education Alliance for Retail, Food Service, Vending, Institutions and Regulators." This group (FSTEA) is working to promote training of government and industry employees in retail food service. FSTEA has begun an evaluation of existing training resources listed in the National Agriculture Library’s Foodborne Illness Education Information Center database, and has developed instruments to perform a needs assessment for educational materials and for multi-lingual training materials. FSTEA has developed training competencies for food safety regulators and begun a similar process of identifying competencies for food safety trainers and retail establishment managers and workers.
FDA offers 30 training courses for state and local retail food regulatory staff through its State Training Branch and provides "training courses in a box" through its lending library. A special Microbiology for Inspectors satellite course was offered during FY 1998 as part of FSI and a follow up course, Investigation of Foodborne Illness will be held FY 1999.