Food safety educator

2005·1.4 MB·English

Historic, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

Your consumer education connection
T h Safety
aRA601 5.F662
Volume 10, No. 1, 2005
■ New Tools
Best Wishes, Dianne
This issue of The Food Safety pull-out section that reports on the
As The Food Safety Educator
Educator is dedicated to electronic activities of the USDA Food Safety
services and other items FSIS rolled Mobile last year. goes into its 10th year of
out in 2004. Featured are “Ask You can read about changes in The bringing you news and
Karen” (page 2) and a new FSIS Web Food Safety Educator, including our
information, we are saying
site (page 4). staff, Web page, and content. As
“Good-bye and best wishes"
In the center, you'll also find a always, we welcome your input. •
to its editor, Dianne Durant, as
she retires from the USDA’s
Food Safety Mobile Recap
Food Safety and Inspection
Service.
WT’1
Dianne worked on the
newsletter since its launch
in 1996, bringing it to more
than 12,000 subscribers in
2004. She has covered topics
from the unveiling of the “Safe
Handling Instructions” label
to irradiation of ground beef,
use of Hazard Analysis and
Critical Control Points (HACCP)
for Federal inspections and
consumer training, conferences,
Internet resources, social
marketing, and the creation of
Fight BAC!® and Thermy™.
The Food Safety Education
Staff wishes Dianne the best of
luck and much enjoyment in her
The center spread of this issue is a report of 2004 Food Safety Mobile activities.
retirement.
The Mobile participated in the Albuquerque, NM, International Balloon Fiesta in
October 2004. We’ll miss you! •
United States Department of Agriculture Laura S. Reiser, Editor www.fsis.usda.gov
Food Safety and Inspection Service [phone] 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854)
A Food Safety Educator Is “Born”
By Tangela Allen and Laura Reiser
I Want To...
As Athena sprang forth from the o Ask a Food Safety ^
Question
head of Zeus fully grown and in
° Locc
full armor, ready for victory, and
Food Safety Education
full of wisdom, on April 20, 2004, o Find
Info
“Ask Karen” was launched onto the
o Sub Ask Karen
Food Safety and Inspection Service’s
o Visit
(FSIS) Web site, ready to overcome
Safe
foodborne illness by answering the I'm Karen, the FSIS Virtual
o Wat
public’s food safety questions. Representative. I can answer your
Ann
As a virtual representative (vRep), food safety questions.
o Atte
the “Ask Karen” tool sprang forth
o Exp<
from many heads—technical Poul I am trained to answer questions about
information specialists from the the prevention of foodborne illness, as
o Viev
well as the safe storage, preparation, and
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
handling of meat, poultry and egg
(USDA) Meat and Poultry Hotline,
products.
public affairs specialists, and Web
developers. They provided the Please type your question below.
vRep “wisdom” by populating its
database with answers to anticipated How can I keep leftovers safe?
questions. The team armed the vRep
Ask^ Help
with speed and flexibility by giving it
an interactive ability such that users
can type in a food safety question
When visitors to the FSIS home page click on "Ask a Food Safety Question "they go
and get an almost instantaneous directly to the “Ask Karen” page, where they can enter their food safety questions.
answer or referral. By using the
Web as its venue, the vRep team
made “Ask Karen” available to users
anytime, anywhere. When users go answered easier for consumers. a response from the database.
to the FSIS home page (www.fsis. This differs from a search engine, Responses may also include a link
usda.gov) and click on the link “Ask which returns every reference to where the consumer can find more
a Food Safety Question,” they meet the topic available on the FSIS Web information.
“Ask Karen.” site. With “Ask Karen,” consumers If the user isn’t sure of the question
receive their responses from a or just wants to explore the “wisdom”
Virtual and “Personal” database, which contains safe food¬ of “Ask Karen,” there is another
A vRep is an automated information handling procedures for consumers option. The “Help” button leads the
source designed to display answers and consumer food safety education consumer to “Question Categories.”
to questions which consumers can information. The consumer can type one of these
ask about a set of topics. The topics The vRep is designed to enhance categories in the question box, then
for “Ask Karen” are food safety, the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline the vRep will display the current list
food inspection, food storage and by providing consumers 24/7 access of example questions in the category.
preparation, food recalls, and other to more than 20 years of safe food¬
topics related to meat, poultry, and handling knowledge assembled by Learn Something New
egg products. The responses given by the Hotline staff. With “Ask Karen,” Every Day
“Karen” contain specific answers to consumers just type in a question at If “Karen” doesn’t understand the
questions along with optional Web their convenience. It doesn’t matter question, the vRep offers suggestions
sites and links that will answer each if it’s 2:00 in the afternoon or 2:00 in of alternative questions or refers the
question in detail. the morning. consumer to the USDA Meat and
The automated response system Once a consumer types a question Poultry Hotline. The tool works best
provides streamlined information into the designated box on the “Ask with simply stated questions; long
and data that make getting questions Karen” Web page, the tool returns explanations are not needed for the
2 The Food Safety Educator
tool to retrieve an answer. pattern lists or synonyms to allow information for the proper handling
The vRep “learns” to answer new the database to search for the correct and storage of meat, poultry, and egg
questions or provide better answers response. products.
based on the questions asked and The timeframe to put together an The vRep team of seven food
terms used by visitors. The system answer can vary from a few minutes safety specialists and public affairs
records each question and response to a few days. While 85 to 90 percent specialists began its work in January
that is given. Reports of this data are of the answers can be found within 2004, compiling information and data
monitored and analyzed by vRep FSIS factsheets and other FSIS collected from more than 20 years
team members on a daily basis. After publications, there are questions of research, knowledge, and training
careful analysis, the questions that that must be referred to other FSIS from the USDA Meat and Poultry
are answered incorrectly or that may divisions to determine and develop Hotline. By the end of 2004, “Ask
pertain to other government agencies the correct response. All responses Karen” contained more than 1,200
are assigned the correct response. In that are entered into the database main questions and more than 5,500
most cases, the consumers' variations must meet FSIS requirements and variations on these questions. The
on questions are simply added into guidelines from a scientific point of database contained 121 categories
the tool. Unfamiliar or new terms view. This is to ensure that consumers relating to meat, poultry, and egg
are programmed into the vRep’s are getting the most up-to-date products safe handling, food storage,
food preparation, food inspection,
food recalls, and many other topics.
The tool’s accuracy is very high—
Food Safety Education higher than the developers expected
to achieve in less than a year.
Ask Karen
A Model Educator
Although still a toddler on the
l‘m Karen, the FSIS Virtual
Internet, “Ask Karen” has already
Representative. I can answer your
answered thousands of questions. In
food safety questions.
just the first year, more than 14,000
visitors asked 44,000 questions.
I am trained to answer questions about
“Ask Karen” was listed as one
the prevention of foodborne illness, as
well as the safe storage, preparation, and the Government’s “Best Practices”
handling of meat, poultry and egg on the new “Federal Web Content
products. Managers Toolkit: A Practical Guide
for Managing U.S. Federal Public
Please type your question below.
Websites” (www.webcontent.gov/
req2d4.shtml). Through this and other
How can I keep leftovers safe?
venues, “Ask Karen” is used by other
Ask Help government agencies as a model of
how to assist the public with finding
answers to questions and to help
Bacteria begin to multiply rapidly in the danger zone between 40 °F
(recommended refrigerator temperature) and 140 °F. Therefore, food identify with the needs of the public.
left out at room temperature will become unsafe in a matter of hours. In the future, the system may be
Refrigerate leftovers at 40 °F or below or freeze (0 °F) as soon as
broadened to contain information
possible, but never leave food out more than 2 hours, or 1 hour if the
from all of the FSIS divisions to assist
outside temperature is above 90 °F. Divide leftovers into shallow
containers. This encourages rapid, even cooling. Cover with airtight lids educators, food service workers, and
or enclose in plastic wraps or aluminum foil. Use refrigerated leftovers other visitors to the FSIS Web site
within 3 to 4 days, or freeze them for longer storage. For more
who need more technical food safety
information, select "Help" above or call the USDA Meat and Poultry
information.
Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854).
Ready to test “Karen’s” knowledge?
Go directly to “Ask Karen” at www.
fsis.usda.gov/food_safety_education/
After visitors type in their questions and click “Ask,” the tool returns an answer and
information on how to find out more. ask_karen/ •
Volume 10, No. 1, 2005
FSIS Puts on a New Face in Cyberspace
By Jason Waggoner © Home
a SI
it Mail
On April 20, 2004, FSIS launched
its new Web site, featuring consistent
navigation across the entire site.
It is much easier for users to work
their way through desired content
and more easily retrace their steps.
.:.;.:
Internet users visit the site because -
they want food safety information. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) I Want To...
Usage statistics show that more than Protecting public health through food salety and security AQsuke sat iFoono d Safety
half of visitors do not enter the Web More Locate an FSIS Office
Find Information for FSIS
"Is It Done Yet?" Only Your Food Employees
site through the “front door,” so they Thermometer Knows for Sure (Jun 21,
2005) | En Espanol Subscribe to Newsletters
require a site that enables them to The answer to this hungry question is the
basis of a national campaign to encourage the
quickly find desired content from any umseea ot,f pfoooudlt rtyh earnmd oemgge tderissh wesh, etno pprreepvaernint g
foodborne illness.
page. Visitors to the FSIS Web site Attend a Public Meeting
Export or Import Meat,
will notice that the Agency gave the USaSfDeA D CuOriNngS UAMnE ERm AeLrEgRenTc: yK |e eEpni nEgs pFanooold Poultry or Egg Products
(Jun 10. 2005) Report a Problem with Food
site a fresh new design that greatly USDA is providing recommendations in
advance of Tropical Storm Arlene
improves navigation and usability, Media Help
FSIS Issues Final Rule On Nutrient To view PDF files you must
allowing the user to more easily get to Content Claims For Meat And Poultry have Adobe Acrobat Reader
Products (Jun 10. 2005) installed on your computer.
the main content areas. Thehaisl thacyt idoine tws ilbl yh eplrpo vciodninsgu mdeetrasi lmeda intain To view Rash files you must
information they can use when making have Macromedia Flash Player
“As a public health agency, it is product choices. installed on your computer.
our goal to empower consumers with
Spotlight: Fact Sheets Moro
knowledge as we continue to drive Handling Food Safely On Barbecue Food Safety | PDF
the Road | En Espanol
down the incidence of foodbome Some general food safety Use these simple guidelines
rules to keep in mind while for grilling food safely.
traveling this summer.
illness in America,” said FSIS Acting
Food Safety While Hiking, Bovine Spongifon
Administrator Dr. Barbara Masters.
“This Web site gives consumers
The new FSIS home page features three ways to get information: by subject, by
immediate access to the information audience, or by the action users want to perform.
that will help them protect themselves
and their families.”
Consumers definitely go to the resources. To meet that need, FSIS Search FSIS
Web for information from the added more informational materials in [
Go
government. Approximately 58 Spanish.
percent of American Internet users, or FSIS gives all its users three new CD
Search all USDA
68 million adults, have visited at least ways to find information: by activity,
o Advanced Search
one government Web site, and most by audience, and by subject. The “I
o Search Tips
have visited more than one, according Want To ...” navigation area on the
Browse by Audience
to Pewlnternet.org (January 2002). right side of the main pages allows
Internet usage in the United States the user to access the most popular Zl
Information For...
continues to rise, meaning that the Web actions and tasks in a single Information For...
general public increasingly turns to click. For example, this area includes
Browse by Subjei Consumers & Edu t(
online resources. the “Visit the USDA Food Safety
The new design also makes Spanish Mobile” option. This link takes the t> Food Safety Educa: Scientists 8r Rese<
language navigation on the site easier. viewer to the main Mobile page, Businesses
t> Science
In one click, visitors can get from the where the user can see a video on the
Constituent Grouf
home page to a dedicated area with Mobile, get background information, > Regulations & Polio
information in Spanish by using the look at the schedule, and request a FSIS Employees
“En Espanol” button. Studies show Mobile visit in the user’s State. > FSIS Recalls
the average Hispanic computer user With the “Browse by Subject”
t> Food Security &
spends more than half of his or her option, users can find the areas that Emergency Preparednesss
online time with Spanish language most interest them with a single click.
4 The Food Safety Educator
This left-hand navigation area lists In the area of food safety education, also increased significantly, according
information by five major subject both the “Consumers and Educators” to the FSIS online customer
groupings, including “Food Safety (by audience) and the “Food Safety satisfaction survey.
Education,” “Science,” and “FSIS Education” pages (by subject) give the The FSIS site redesign was part of
Recalls.” user a variety of options to explore. an aggressive program to enhance
With the “Browse by Audience” In addition to navigation changes, USDA’s electronic government
option, users can find information FSIS’s Web staff will regularly capabilities as part of the President’s
assembled and organized specifically update the front page of the new Management Agenda. The USDA
for them by clicking on the drop¬ site to reflect current news. Agency Web Presence initiative began with
down box and selecting the initiatives, and seasonal features to a new design of USDA’s home page
appropriate designation. The site give it a continuously fresh look. in January 2004 as a first step to
then takes the user to a main page Statistics show the site redesign upgrade its services and be more
containing specific information has been well received. As of March responsive to customers’ needs.
geared toward a particular audience. 2005, the number of people visiting FSIS is the first USDA agency to
These audiences include “Consumers the site had increased by more than redesign its Web site under the new
& Educators,” “Businesses,” and 250 percent since the launch. Overall Departmental standards.
“Scientists & Researchers.” customer satisfaction and the number Watch for a Google-powered search
of people recommending the site have engine on the site in 2005. •
I Want To...
o Ask a Food Safety
Question
° Locate an FSIS Office
o Find FSIS Employee
Information
o Subscribe to Newsletters You are here: Home / Food Safety Education / Food Safety Education Programs / Food Safety Mobile
o Visit the USDA Food
Safety Mobile
eoo © USDA Food Safety Mobile CD While visiting the USDA Food
Announceme * O A & & so Safety Mobile page, users can
Back Refresh Home AutoFill Print Mail r > find out how to become a host
t
O Export or Im © USOA M*. © AFCU © Mortgage Loan Calculators lot west com and watch a video. Visitors can
Poultry or E easily navigate to other pages
USDA Onilud Stales Department of Agriculture
O View Archiv Food Safety and inspection Service with the right-hand menu options.
If the visitor entered the FSIS
Web site here, the “breadcrumb
Fact Sheets : Careers Forms Help Contact Us En Esparto!
Food Safety Educatcn Food Safet/Educaton Programs - : c trail” at the top provides a
Food Safety Education quick way to identify this page’s
location.
Food Safety Education
The USDA Food Safety Mobile is grassroots education at its
best We're traveling the nation with food safety education,
reaching millions of people right where they live. Food Safety Mobile
Become a Mobile Host Thermy”*
Thinking of hosting the USDA Food Safety 0 Is It Done Yet?
Mobile at an event in your town’ Here are
some things you'll need to know before 0 Fight BAC'®
making your decision and other things to < Food Safety Education
keep in mind when submitting your request Month
USDA Meat A Poultry Hotline
tors Keep Informed - Sign Up For Email Ask Karen
Updates
Our email subscripbon service notifies you For Kids & Teens
hers wthhee Un SpDoAp uFloaor dp aSgaefest yy oMu osbeilleec Et—veinnct luding Fact Sheets
Schedule—are updated
How to Become a Host Food Safety Educator
Want to bring the Food Safety Mobile to your town’ Find out Food borne Illness
how to request a visit Education Information
Center
Mobile Events by Region | By Date
View a schedule of Food Safety Mobile events by region, or
track the Mobile as it moves across the country Media Help
To view PDF files you must
News, Videos, Photos & Images have Adobe Acrobat Reader
News Releases and video news releases, a photo gallery, and installed on your computer
downloads Make sure to check out the coloring book'
To view video Wes you must
Food Safety Mobile Game have RealPlayer installed on
The Food Safety Mobile is about to take a ride through Safe your computer
Food Park. The invisible enemy is called BAC Fight him as
you make your way through this Mobile game' (“Note- The To view Flash files you must
game hie is fairly large, 2.0 MB, and may take several have Macromedia Flash Player
minutes to load at slower connection speeds The game is installed on your computer
also resizeable If it is running too slowly decrease the size of
your browser window )
Volume 10, No. 1, 2005
New Materials
In late 2003 and throughout 2004, National Disaster Education
FSIS issued some traditional Coalition, of which FSIS is a
Proteja a su bebe y protejase
materials you can use and, of course, member. The guide is designed to usted de la Listeriosis
they are available on the FSIS Web assist those who provide disaster
site. safety information to the general
• Conference Proceedings, public.
Thinking Globally—Working
Locally: A Conference on Food Translated into Spanish
Safety Education • “Cooking for Groups” color
• “Food Safety and Food Security: booklet especially for volunteer
What Consumers Need to Know” food preparers. •
• Food safety facts with visual
cultural motifs to attract the
attention of Native Americans and
African-Americans Gocinando
• “Let’s Talk Turkey” all-in- Gpaurlaa dVeo lIunnotcaruiiedsa d
one brochure that answers the
most common questions about
preparing and handling turkey
• “Protect Your Baby and Yourself
From Listeriosis” plain-language
factsheet in English and Spanish
• “Safe Handling of Take-Out
Foods”
• Talking About Disaster: Guide
for Standard Messages by the
■ More Changes on the Web
Get the Scoop on Updates Options range from recalls to export From September 2004 to April
Get the most current information information to FSIS issuances such 2005, more than 11,000 visitors to the
from the FSIS Web site by signing up as regulations, directives, and notices. site subscribed to the service, which
for E-mail updates. Customers may News releases and The Food Safety averages 50 new subscribers each day.
sign up for 21 initial subscription Educator are also available. FSIS will Sign up on the FSIS Web site at www.
options across 8 categories to find send you an E-mail when the pages fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Email_
out when pages have been revised. you chose are updated. Subscription/ •
Web Address Changes
The Food Safety Educator Web page address has changed. Be sure to update
your bookmarks.
@
The Food Safety Educator
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/food_safety_educator/ •
Sign up for
Email Updates
6 The Food Safety Educator
USDA Food Safety Mobile 2004 U.S. Tour
T
he USDA Food Safety
Mobile was busy again
in 2004, bringing food safc
education to consumers
at 100 events in 76 cities.
The Mobile, operated by
USDA’s Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS),
reached 48 States and the
District of Columbia by
the end of this, its second,
annual U.S. tour.
Since March 2003, the USDA Food bacteria characters, stirring up
Safety Mobile has been finding trouble with food. The four steps to
consumers where they already safe food handling, but are keeping food safe—Clean, Separate,
go—fairs, festivals, schools, senior eager to keep themselves Cook, and Chill—are displayed as
centers, grocery stores, parades, and and their families safe. characters like Thermy™.
more. FSIS and its partners take food Covered with colorful graphics FSIS manages the Mobile and local
safety information, materials, and featuring the notorious BAC!—the educators host events. FSIS and local
experts directly to consumers without foodbome bacteria that can make educators staff events and answer
waiting for them to come looking people sick—the Mobile is a traveling consumers’ questions. The Mobile
and asking for them. These are often educational tool in and of itself. is stocked with materials consumers
people who would normally not reach Among the U.S. landmarks depicted can take home as reminders and
out themselves for information on on the Mobile’s exterior lurk these totes food-safety fun. The costumed-
USDA Food Safety Mobile 1
ublic Health Education on the Move
characters Thermy™ and BAC! tour
2003-2004 USDA Food Safety Mobile Visits
with the Mobile. The food safety
wheel game attracts adults and
children alike, beckoning them to
spin the wheel, answer a question,
and win a prize. Everyone walks
away with a free promotional piece
such as a magnet, sticker, temporary
tattoo, refrigerator thermometer, or
sometimes even a food thermometer.
Interacting with consumers is the key
to establishing a lasting impression—
and affecting consumer behavior.
In 2004, the Food Safety Mobile
traveled 21,000 miles, taking
safe food-handling messages to
communities across the Nation.
Events this year included:
• Three Kings Day Parade in Miami,
• Cities Visited
FL;
• Atlanta, GA, Community Food
Bank Walk for Hunger; Hopkinton, NH, State Fair; A primary goal of the USDA Food
Safety Mobile is to establish and
• Mercer County,WV, Kiddie Fair; Albuquerque, NM, International
develop partnerships with various
Balloon Fiesta;
• Taste of Cincinnati, OH;
local educators and others interested
AARP convention in Fas Vegas,
• National Capital BBQ Battle in in food safety in their communities.
NV; and
Washington, DC; USDA and FSIS have a long history
Thanksgiving Parade in Baltimore, with many organizations interested
• Great Fakes Folk Festival in
MD. in food safety. The value added by
Fansing, MI;
these new and growing partnerships is
enormous. The Mobile would not be
successful without them.
By December 2004, FSIS had
more than 1,100 Food Safety Mobile
partners in its database. These
partners come from a variety of
organizations:
• Universities and cooperative
extension;
• State and local public health,
agriculture, and other government
agencies; and
• Grocery stores, schools; and many
others.
FSIS also partnered with several
universities to start an internship
program. Undergraduate and
2 USDA Food Safety Mobile