HOW TO USE THIS PLANNING GUIDE
to Celebrate National Food Safety Education MonthSM 2002
September is the National Food Safety Education MonthSM. Founded
by the International Food Safety Councila coalition of restaurant and
food industry professionalsthe month is dedicated to promoting safe food
preparation and educating consumers about the importance of food safety. Consumers
need to know simple steps they can take to prevent foodborne illness. One way
is to advise consumers of the four basic messages, Clean, Separate, Cook,
and Chill. Our theme for this year is Four Steps To Food Safety.
Ideas to Promote National Food Safety Education MonthSM
Variety is the key. Activities such as food safety fairs, contests, parades,
exhibits, workshops, educational fairs, supermarket tours, or educational materials
translated into other languages can all help to make this September a celebration
of food safety awareness. This Planning Guide is designed to provide you with
the tools you can use to plan for National Food Safety Education MonthSM.
Proclaim National Food Safety Education MonthSM
Add credibility and generate media attention by encouraging your governor,
mayor, or other local official to proclaim National Food Safety Education MonthSM
in your state or local area. Use the sample proclamation provided and make it
official!
Make Local Contacts!
Let the community know about National Food Safety Education MonthSM.
Ask the media to invite the public and cover your event. Make a differencethis
is your opportunity to educate consumers on important food safety practices.
To help you, a sample press release and a "ready-to-go" article are
included for your local newspaper, as well as public service announcements to
take to your local radio and television stations, and as sample logos you can
use for letterhead or to personalize your own fact sheets.
Logos/Artwork
National Food Safety Education MonthSM logos can be used to develop
promotional materials such as balloons, bookmarks, magnets, stickers, T-shirts,
aprons, etc. Use the Four Steps To Food Safety message.
Games and Activities
Use the fun activities, game board, crossword puzzle, and coloring pages in
the Guide. The Partnership for Food Safety Education has provided sample materials
from two of their educational packages:
- The Family Vacation Game is from the Fight BAC!® Presenters Guide
for grades K-3.
- The experiments are from Your Game Plan for Food Safety, a Fight BAC!®
Teacher's Activity and Experiment Guide. "Soapy Solutions" and "Theres
More Than Meets The Eye" are sample experiments designed for children
in 4th through 6th grades.
Feel free to distribute these materials at your events. More information about
the Partnership's products is available on the Web site at: www.fightbac.org
Resources
Keep us at your fingertips, www.FoodSafety.gov/September.
Other Web sites include the FDA, FSIS, USDA/Foodborne Illness Education Information
Center, CDC, and the Partnership for Food Safety Education (Fight BAC!®).
Toll-free phone numbers are also available to help you with your food safety
education questions.
Certificate of Appreciation
Make copies of this certificate and present it to individuals who have participated
in National Food Safety Education MonthSM. Use it for special recognition
of invited guests, public officials, community organizations, and other people
you would like to thank.
Feedback Form
Give us your feedback! Please share your name, organization, the local events
and activities you planned (including the partners who helped you), and any
comments or suggestions you have. Fill out the form and fax it to Gertie Loretta
Hurley at (202) 720-9063. Or, find the form at www.FoodSafety.gov/September
and e-mail the information to: fsis.outreach@usda.gov
SM International Food Safety Council
* Distributed May 2002 for use in September 2002 as part of the International
Food Safety Council's National Food Safety Education Month.
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