Food Safety / Consumer Education
FoodLogiQ welcomes guest blogger Julie McGill, Vice President of Supply Chain Strategy and Insights, as she talks hand washing, poultry dos and don’ts, and the importance of consumer food safety education.
Last week I had the opportunity to attend a meeting of the Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE), a public-private collaborative that is the only nonprofit in the U.S. focusing on consumer food safety education. FoodLogiQ joined a host of food safety leaders from across the country—including PFSE partners Tyson Foods, McDonald’s, Publix and others, and federal liaisons from the CDC, FDA and USDA—to discuss key food safety initiatives. NACS hosted the gathering in Alexandria, VA.
The following are some of the key takeaways from the meeting, including reminders about upcoming events and food safety initiatives that are beneficial to food safety professionals:
Global Handwashing Day, October 15, 2019
- Each year on October 15, Global Handwashing Day is observed to highlight the importance of handwashing with soap at home, in the community, and in the workplace. This recognition day was established by the Global Handwashing Partnership in 2008.
- Studies show that handwashing with soap is one of the best steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others, especially during key times such as after using the bathroom, when preparing food, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
- To learn more about Global Handwashing Day and how you can get involved, visit the CDC’s website. You can also go to foodsafety.gov for information on handwashing and food safety best practices.
The USDA’s Recommendation on Handling Poultry
- According to the USDA, consumers are not properly handling raw poultry, even when they’ve been educated on best practices. More education is needed to help prevent cross contamination in kitchens.
- When prepping raw chicken, DO NOT RINSE IT, as the splashing water can cause the spread of germs.
- Before and after handling raw poultry, use hot, soapy water for 20 seconds to wash hands, cutting boards, knives, scissors and other tools, as well as the sink and all work surfaces.
- Use a thermometer to check the internal temperature of chicken to ensure it’s fully cooked, and always serve it using a clean platter and utensils—never ones touched by raw meat.
NACS Show in Atlanta, October 1-4, 2019
- Next week in Atlanta, professionals from the convenience store and fuel retailing industry will gather at the annual NACS Show. The event attracts more than 23,500 industry stakeholders from around the world.
- Buyers and sellers will come together to conduct business and learn from one another — all in an environment fostering new ideas and partnerships. The program is rich with educational opportunities designed to help retailers operate successful businesses.
- Foodservice is a growing revenue category for retailers. When you consider that 165 million people walk into a convenience store every day, food safety is a top priority.
FoodLogiQ is proud to be an annual contributing partner with The Partnership for Food Safety Education, an organization committed to improving public health by providing free food safety resources to consumers, retailers and educators.
Participating in Consumer Education
Consumers are more eager than ever to learn about their food and buy from transparent brands. Participating in initiatives like Global Hand Washing Day can keep your customers safe, informed, and can help you build trust by incorporating food safety into your brand identity. Sharing key insights from food safety authorities like the PFSE is a simple way to protect consumers and contribute to closing gaps in public knowledge around food safety. In addition to educating consumers about best practices for food preparation, FoodLogiQ Connect can help you build more fundamental transparency into your supply chain. Request a demo to learn more about traceability, quality incident management, and food safety management. A comprehensive, farm to fork, understanding of your product is a key step in being able to keep your consumers as educated and safe as possible.
