Partnership for Food Safety Education

FightBAC!

Food Safety is a Shared Responsibility

Shelley Feist, Executive Director of the Partnership for Food Safety Education

Note: Cross-posted from the IFIC Foundation’s Nutrition Blog. Food safety is a shared responsibility across the food supply. This Food Safety Education Month, the IFIC Foundation is featuring guest blog posts from the various entities that work to keep our food supply safe—Consumers, Farmers/Producers,Retailers/Food Service and the Government.
An estimated 190 million Americans own a car and I’m one of them. A car is a great thing – but it can also be a dangerous thing if it is handled incorrectly.
I don’t keep my car running on my own. When I bought it more than ten years ago I tried to make an informed choice – to make sure the car offered what I was looking for, and that the manufacturer was delivering a good quality product. I couldn’t be 100% sure I was getting this.  I could only hope and trust that was the case.
I rely on the petroleum industry to make sure I can get gas for my car – quality fuel that will run my car and not damage it. I also rely on one or more trained people to help keep my car running safely and well. They fix things that if not maintained might just get worse and lead to a total breakdown of the car.

 

Shoppers Break for Food Safety at the Micronesia Mall

Shoppers took food safety knowledge home along with purchases

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Food safety was probably not on shoppers’ minds when they entered the Micronesia Mall in Guam last September. But they certainly left with it thanks to BAC Fighters from the Preventive Medicine Department of Guam’s United States Naval Hospital.

For Food Safety Education Month, the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services planned a fair at the Micronesia mall to educate residents about proper food handling and the foodborne illnesses that can result from improper practices. A team of dedicated BAC Fighters was on site to educate residents with a popular interactive booth.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Richelle Magalhaes and Hospital Corpsmen Mounts, Felan, Josephbrooks, and Stege set up booths to interact with kids and adults. Adults chose from informative pamphlets, booklets, and magnets while the kids had fun with food safety coloring sheets.

The shoppers of Micronesia Mall didn’t mind taking a break from shopping to stop by and learn about food safety!

And we’re certainly glad they did! Thank you LTJG Richelle Magalhaes and team for planning the exhibit.

 

School Starts with Food Safety

BAC Fighter Stephanie Castillo plans a packed Food Safety Education Month for Kansas Students

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Stephanie Castillo, a BAC Fighter from the Kansas Family Nutrition Program, always kicks off her work in elementary schools with Food Safety Education Month. Last September, Stephanie taught hand washing and food safety to 614 students!

Here are some of the tactics she used to make sure her elementary students got the most out of Food Safety Education Month:

  • Interactive tools

Stephanie used a thermometer, ice pack, strainer, scrub brush, and two separate cutting boards to teach students how to practice the four core food safety steps.

  • Story time

The He’s BAC Storybook and BAC himself turned story time into food safety time. Stephanie also read Germs! Germs! Germs! and Oh! The Things You Can Do That Are Good For You to teach kids all about staying healthy.

  • Pass the germ game

Stephanie crocheted “germs” that the students could pass around. They passed them around in a circle until instructed to stop. Students left holding the germs were out of the game.

  • Eating germs!

Yuck – not that kind of germ! This one is made of crackers, cream cheese, and pretzels. Get the recipe here.

  • Glo Germ machine booths

To teach the important of hand washing, Stephanie set up an interactive Glo Germ booth. Students were able to see where they needed to work on proper hand washing techniques.
We can’t imagine many more fun ways to teach kids about food safety and hand hygiene! Keep up the good work, Stephanie!