Food Safe Schools: what‘s it all about?

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.”

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, (5)

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

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

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 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)

Food Safety in the News...

Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH)  Primary food safety objective is to promote and incorporate food safety into school programs.

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.

Food Safe School Framework 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 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 Health Services (School Nurse) Exchange information with key administrators Identify and report foodborne illnesses Collaborate to manage outbreaks Assist with training School Food Services Develop, implement and enforce food safety procedures Exchange information Support food safety education Train staff Students Wash hands Practice safe food behaviors Take food safety messages home to parents 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

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

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!

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!

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

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

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

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

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