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FEATURE SCRIPT – USDA Hosts Food Safety Education Conference
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INTRODUCTION: The U.S. Department of Agriculture and partners held a
national food safety education conference in Denver, Colorado. USDA's Patrick O'Leary has more.
Pat O'Leary, USDA (voice-over):
Leading public health officials met with food safety educators from around the nation to share ideas on fighting
foodborne illness. The Denver conference was hosted by the USDA and a diverse group of partners, with a unified message.
Mike Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture: Proper food handling can make the difference between a
delicious meal and a dangerous illness. Our challenge is in getting that message to consumers, to make it a part
of their food preparation culture.
Richard Raymond, M.D., Under Secretary for Food Safety, USDA: One of the things we're doing today
is announcing a new program called Be Food Safe. That's a media-ready toolkit that our partners will have on hand
that they can use to help promote our messages. But I also hope to hear from them today about tools that work.
Kevan Lawlor, President & CEO, NSF International: Hand washing is one of the simplest and most
effective ways to prevent illness. Scrubclub.org is an animated and fun Web site that teaches children the proper
way to wash their
hands.
Pat O'Leary, USDA (STAND-UP): The conference theme is "Reaching At-Risk Audiences, and Today's
Other Food Safety Challenges." What that means is a special focus on protecting those who are most vulnerable
when it comes to foodborne illness.
Admiral John O. Agwunobi, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health, HHS: Whether they're elderly, the
frail, the immuno-compromised, those with young infants, those with chronic illness, or their caregivers, those
simple messages of "clean, separate, cook and chill" are powerful in their collective impact on the safety
of our nation.
Kristin Woods, Auburn University Extension: So many people get sick and die each year because of
food safety related illnesses and it's a growing concern in our society, especially with the recent spinach-E. coli outbreak.
Georges Benjamin, M.D. Executive Director, American Public Health Association: This foodborne outbreak
we've had is a real tragedy, but let me tell you something. It would have been worse, much worse, if you weren't there.
Heather Driscoll, Registered Dietitian, Colorado: Things slide without reminders, so I think having
the reminders and having the most current information makes people a little bit more aware.
Pat O'Leary, USDA (STAND-UP): In Denver, Colorado, for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, I'm Pat O'Leary.
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Last Modified:
November 7, 2006 |
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