Aug 25, 2015

By: Hilary Thesmar, PhD, RD, FMI Vice President, Food Safety Programs, Food Marketing Institute
PFSE Be Food Safe

September 2015 marks the 21st National Food Safety Education Month.  The focus of National Food Safety Education Month is to educate and increase consumer awareness on the importance of proper food safety practices.

Communicating food safety information to consumers can be challenging.  Consumers expect the food they purchase is safe.  Sharing food safety information, such as proper preparation and storage techniques, with customers helps ensure the safety of the food continues once it leaves the store.  Retailers can help consumers take action to reduce the risk of foodborne illness by 4 simple steps:  Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill.

Here are some resources available through The Partnership for Food Safety Education to help plan your outreach activities for National Food Safety Education Month.

Fight BAC Webinar:  40° or Below Campaign Launch September 2
Keeping a constant refrigerator temperature of 40°F or below is one of the most effective ways to reduce risk of food borne illness - including listeriosis.  FMI members are urged to participate in the next Fight BAC Brown Bag webinar on Wednesday, September 2 at 1 p.m. EDT.  You'll get first access to new consumer education materials that highlight this critical home food safety practice.  Register for the webinar here. ProducePro for Retailers
Tasteless, colorless and odorless—some microorganisms found in raw fresh foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, can cause food poisoning. Food poisoning disproportionately affects our most vulnerable populations—including young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.  Educate customers to become ProducePros and give them the knowledge they need to consistently practice basic safe handling and hand hygiene when preparing fresh produce at home. Stop Salmonella
Illnesses from Salmonella spike in the summer.  Use these flyers and postcards available in English and Spanish so you can take action to reduce the risk of infection. Download and share them with others to help everyone have a summer without Salmonella! Resources for Safe Grilling  
These new grilling graphics in English and Spanish let consumers take safe cooking temperatures with them everywhere they go to grill this summer. Share them on your websites, through your social media channels, or even print them as postcards! Home Food Safety Mythbusters
Over the years we have all heard advice related to food safety. Some of this advice rings true, while other guidance is just plain wrong. To help you protect yourself and your family from foodborne illness, the Partnership for Food Safety Education has created new materials for consumers and educators that debunk common home food safety myths.  Recall Basics
The Partnership for Food Safety Education has created simple tools designed to orient consumers to the need to take notice of recalls and to take action to identify whether a recalled product is in their home.

It is the food industry’s job to prevent contamination from occurring.  It is also our responsibility to make sure we provide science based information to consumers to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.  Together we can be champions for food safety.  Together we can create a food safe America.