USDA/FDA education initiative : evaluating the placement of food safety education in American schools

240 Pages·1998·11 MB·English

by  Koeppl, Patrick T

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

United States
Department
of
Agriculture
A
National
AgricuIturaTLibTa^
U.S.D.A, NAL
DEC
2 4 2003
Table of Contents
CATALOniMn
DRF
p
Executive Summary
i
I. Introduction 1
EE. Project Overview 3
A. Project Activities 3
B Methodology 5
.
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A. Document Reviews 8
B. Curriculum Materials Review 16
C. Food Safety Education Materials 27
D. Interviews 39
IV. Discussion 56
A. Is there an advantage within the public school system of focusing food
safety education as more of a health issue, a home economics issue, or a
science issue? 57
B. Where would food safety instruction have the best chance of finding
support in the school environment? 58
C. Would the concept of food safety education find greater support among
classroom teachers or among school support staff (i.e., nurses or food
service staff)? 58
D. In which grade or grades should food safety education efforts be focused?.
58
E. Should the educational goal be to raise awareness, increase knowledge,
—
change attitudes, or modify behavior Or is there some other focus?
59
F. At what age/grade level are students most receptive to learning about safe
food handling techniques 59

G. What approaches are most compatible with current instructional practices
and will encourage maximum usage of a food safety education
program? 60
H. What technologies are schools using most, and what formats do teachers
and students prefer? 60
V. Conclusions 62
Appendix A. Teacher Interview Protocols
Appendix B. List ofDocuments Reviewed in Preparation ofthis Report
Appendix C. Matrix ofProducts Reviewed
Appendix D. Bibliography

USDA/FDA Education Evaluating the
Initiative:
Placement of Food SafetyEducation inAmerican
Schools
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
There is consensus in the public health community—that learning safe food-handling habits at an
early age benefits health in the short and long term and yet many children and teens have not
received adequate education on the topic of food safety. Ensuring that all students receive such
education is critical. Because understanding and practicing proper food safety techniques can
significantly reduce food-borne illness, school-age children have been identified as a high-
priority group to receive food-safety education under the President's Food Safety Initiative.
Over the years, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) at the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA/FDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have produced a
variety of school-oriented programs and materials aimed at various grade levels. USDA/FDA
are now about to embark on a large-scale effort to provide young people with food safety
information in a school environment. In preparation for this initiative, it is necessary to have a
clear understanding of that environment today and in the near future. These questions are
critical:
• Where can food safety best be integrated from both grade level and subject matter
perspectives?
—
• What can we hope to accomplish raise awareness, increase knowledge, change attitudes,
develop skills, and/or alter behavior?
—
Who
• will be the primary instructors for food safety instruction classroom teachers, cafeteria
staff, school nurses, or some other group?
What media and formats will receive greatest acceptance among K-12 educators?
USDA/FDA secured the services of Macro International Inc. (Macro) to conduct research and
develop a report that would guide planning offuture K-12 food safety education initiatives. The
following document describes the project's activities and methodology, presents Macro's
findings, and offers recommendations on positioning and delivering food safety education in
public schools.
USDA/FDA Education Initiative- Evaluating the Placement of Food Safety Education in American Schools i