Food Safety
Getting the Message to the People

Educators and media members are in an ideal position to promote food safety to the general public and help them stay healthy. Listed below are some ideas to help bring the food safety message to your community.

	Photo: ARS Photo Unit

• Set up food safety exhibits in shopping malls, supermarkets, community centers, and health fairs.
  Partner with youth, student, or community organizations to staff exhibits and distribute food safety materials.
  

• Partner with schools, libraries, and senior and community centers to display and distribute copies of food safety materials.

• Speak to senior groups about the special importance of food safety for older persons because of their heightened susceptibility to severe foodborne illness as a result of age or underlying chronic conditions.

• Arrange for food safety exhibits at health-related local races/walks/bike rides during the month.

• Mail food safety materials to day care center directors and encourage them to reproduce and distribute these materials to parents or use the information in center newsletters.

Photo: ARS Photo Unit

• Encourage WIC clinic or day care center directors to demonstrate the importance of keeping raw foods separate from ready-to-eat foods. Sponsor a "Play it Safe, Don't Contaminate Day," and ask day care center directors to invite parents of young children to participate. Invite a local chef from a restaurant or community college. Include partners from the health department or public health students from a university.
• Encourage local elementary schools to hold a "Kids Keep Foods Separate" Day. Contact your local chapter of the American Culinary Federation's Chef and Child Foundation for chefs who volunteer in schools. Offer poster and essay contests with BAC! Awards on the importance of food safety.
  Kids generally help out in the kitchen at home. Invite parents to demonstrate with their children the importance of keeping raw foods separate from ready-to-eat foods.

• Contact your local or state representative of the National Restaurant Association and talk about how you can work together to promote food safety education.

• Partner with local Girl Scout/Boy scout troops to offer a special ribbon, medal, or certificate to scouts involved in activities promoting food safety education.