Food Safe Schools : what‘s it all about?

1. Food Safe Schools:what‘s it all about?

2. Presentation Objectives Participants will gain an understanding of the importance of food safety throughout the school community. Participants will become aware of and knowledgeable about the concept of “Food Safe Schools.”

3. How common is foodborne disease? In the U.S., CDC estimates that foodborne pathogens cause:  76 million illnesses per year  325,000 hospitalizations per year  5,000 deaths per year Mead, P.S., et al., Food-Related Illness and Death in the United States. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 1999. 5 (5)

4. Goals  Education  Prevention  Seamless food safety net  Improvements in surveillance National Food Safety Initiative“From Farm to Table”

5. Q:Why the focus of food safety in schools? A: Because children are at an increased risk for foodborne illness!

6. More reasons for food safety in schools . . . Approximately 1/3 of the U.S. population attends, works for, or has children in schools. In 1998, 43% of all food preparation and food service workers were 16-24 years old. McDonald’s serves 20 million hamburgers a day while U.S. schools serve over 33 million meals. (ACS, 1998; McFact” on McDonalds.com; US Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPS 1998)

7. Food Safety in the News...

8. Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) Primary food safety objective is to promote and incorporate food safety into school programs. www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash

9. What is the Food Safe School Initiative? It’s about utilizing the coordinated school health program approach for ensuring food safety in schools throughout the school community.

10. Administration • Develop and support food safety policies • Develop coordination system • Create a school environment conducive to food safety practices • Prevent and manage outbreaks • Teachers • Provide food safety instruction • Develop/implement curriculum • Model appropriate behaviors • Teach student skill-building • School Food Services • Develop, implement and enforce food safety procedures • Exchange information • Support food safety education • Train staff • Parents/Family • Promote development of school food safety policies • Advocate for instruction and skill-building for students • Model appropriate behaviors • Properly prepare food that students bring to school • Students • Wash hands • Practice safe food behaviors • Take food safety messages home to parents • Health Services • (School Nurse) • Exchange information with key administrators • Identify and report foodborne illnesses • Collaborate to manage outbreaks • Assist with training • Cooperative Extension • Communicate with schools and the health department • Promote food safety policies • Develop food safety curricula and programs • Assist with training • Health Department • Investigate outbreaks • Routinely inspect facilities • Risk & crisis communication • Send outbreak information to Federal agencies • Work with schools and cooperative extension agencies Food Safe School Framework

11. A Food Safe School Definition A school that incorporates food safety education, principles, and practices into everyday operating procedures.

12. What’s involved?  Collaborating with others to ensure safe food.  Developing a local level multi-disciplinary team.  Evaluating current policies and procedures.  Educating food service personnel, students, teachers, parents, and others in the school community.  Practicing safe food handling, preparation, storage, and eating!

13. Food Safe School Examples • Food safety policies and procedures in place district-wide. • Food safety training for food service staff and volunteers • Food safety education in the classroom • Hand washing encouraged by all!

14. Goal of the National Coalition for Food Safe Schools • Multi-disciplinary • Multi-agency participation • Resource sharing & dissemination Improved, seamless support of Food Safe Schools • Strategic Planning • Collaboration

15. Now Available! www.FoodSafeSchools.org One-stop gateway for school food safety information and resources Links to NCFSS 25+ member organizations’ web sites

16. Other resources as well as the Web site . . . California Healthy Kids Resource Center Healthy Schools... Healthy People, It’s A SNAP! (School Network for Absenteeism Prevention)

17. Questions?You can contact Cindy Schneider, M.P.A., R.D., California Department of Education 916.322.1566

18. References • Buzby, J., Children and Microbial Foodborne Illness. FoodReview, volume 24, Issue 2, 2001. • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vital health statistics. 1999. • Daniels, N. A., Mackinnon, L., et al. Foodborne disease outbreaks in the United States schools. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 2002; 21(7): 623-628. • Food-Safe Schools Recommendations 2002. ORC Macro under contract to the Division of Adolescent and School Health, CDC in collaboration with experts from national school and health organizations. • Warner, J., Salmonella Infections Still Rising. Web MD Medical News from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, CDC, April 2003. • $4.75 million awarded in E. Coli case. Seattle, WA Herald, January 2001.