Michigan State University Extension
Extension Food Safety Education - FSQ96031
12/01/96

Project Title: An Educational Approach to Reduce the Risk of Foodborne Illness in Vulnerable Populations


Materials Title: Food Handling is a Risky Business          
Materials Format:  Adult Curriculum Notebook                
Date Materials Produced:  1992                              

Project Number: 91-EFSQ-1-4031                              
University: University of Massachusetts Extension           
Project Director: Nancy Cohen, Ph.D.                        
Specialist, Food & Nutrition                                
University of Massachusetts                                 
Cooperative Extension Service                               
Dept. of Nutrition, Chenoweth Lab                           
Amherst, MA  01003                                          

Phone: 413-545-0552                                         
FAX: 413-545-1074                                           
E-mail - cohenj@nutrition.umass.edu

This project has been completed.                            

Food Handling is a Risky Business                           
Abstract:                                                   
This is a train-the-trainer curriculum designed to train    
key staff in human service agencies who in turn will        
teach a food safety program to other staff and clients.     
The objective is to increase knowledge and adoption of      
recommended safe food handling practices of professional    
and non-professional staff in agencies who care for high-   
risk populations. The program includes information          
specific to vulnerable groups, food handling, regulations   
(specific to Massachusetts), methods for teaching, and      
evaluation/administrative materials. The program is         
intended for food handlers in center-based day care,        
family day care, shelters, resident homes, congregate       
meal sites, school food service and soup kitchens.          

I. Content                                                  
 A.   Main emphasis of the curriculum:                      
  - Microbiological issues:  plant food issues, animal      
food issues                                                 
 B. Content related to risk communications:                 
  - Consumer perception and outrage factors                 
  - Understanding risks and issues related to bacteria      
 C. Content related to microbiological issues:              
  - Scientific principles of food safety                    
  - Foodborne illness                                       
  - Consideration of at-risk populations:  children,        
immune deficient, elderly                                   
  - Food purchasing considerations                          
  - Food preparation at school, childcare, shelters,        
congregate meal sites                                       
  - Economic considerations                                 
  - Regulatory issues:  policies, agencies                  

II. The curriculum addresses the following food related     
risk educational goals:                                     
 A. Reduce the risk of foodborne illness                    
 B. Improve consumer understanding of food related risks    

III. Format                                                 
 - Number of lessons in curriculum - 3                      
 - Length of each lesson, time required:  20-45 minutes     
 - Target audiences are educators/trainers, food handlers   
 - Materials are applicable to diverse audiences            
 - Materials are available in English and Spanish           
 - Facilitator materials include background information,    
goals and objectives, lesson plans/scripts, camera-ready    
masters, answer keys, resource lists, evaluation            
guidelines.                                                 
 - Learner materials format: fact sheet, handout, poster    
 - Materials intended to be used in instructor-led          
settings                                                    
 - Production qualities include graphics immediately        
identifiable and relevant to content and reader.            
 - Instructional strategies include discussion,             
demonstrations, observations, lecture, audiovisual          
presentation                                                
 - Learning activities include case studies, scenarios      

Availability Information:                                   

Purchase price:  $10.50, make check payable to University   
of Massachusetts                                            

Order from Rachel Swicher                                   
Extension Food Safety Project Manager                       
202 Chenoweth Laboratory                                    
University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension System    
University of Massachusetts                                 
Amherst, MA  01003                                          

The above materials are available on interlibrary loan      
from the National Agricultural Library.  Contact a local    
librarian for further assistance in obtaining the           
materials.                                                  

NAL Call Number:  Kit number 301                            
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