Food Safety Education

Food Safety Education

Campaign Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Volunteer Advertising Agency: JWT New York

BACKGROUND:

1 in 6 Americans will get sick from food poisoning this year. Food poisoning (also referred to as foodborne illness) is a serious public health threat in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 48 million people get food poisoning each year, resulting in roughly 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. Consumer education focused on safe food handling and preparation practices can help reduce food poisoning, hospitalizations, and deaths.

CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVE:

1. Raise awareness of the risks of food poisoning

2. Motivate consumers to take action to reduce their personal risk of food poisoning and achieve safe food handling behaviors—Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill

CAMPAIGN APPROACH:

Through humorous depictions of over-the-top safe food handling behaviors, the PSAs encourage parents to prepare their family’s meals with serious care and deliver clear steps to reduce their risk of food poisoning. All of the new English and Spanish PSAs urge viewers to learn more at FoodSafety.gov.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

· Parents (GM and Hispanic) who cook on a regular basis (4+ times per week)

DID YOU KNOW?

· Using a food thermometer is the only way to determine if meat is cooked to the right temperature.

· Separating raw meat from vegetables and other ready-to-eat food when preparing meals can help prevent the spread of illness-causing bacteria.

· The incidence of food poisoning tends to increase during the summer months because bacteria multiply faster when it’s warm.

FOR ADDITIONAL CAMPAIGN INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Robert Tuverson

Director, Food Safety Education Staff

Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education

USDA-FSIS

5601 Sunnyside Avenue

Mailroom 5230; Location 2-L188B

Beltsville, MD 20705

Phone: 301-344-4755

Megan Sigesmund

Campaign Manager

The Advertising Council, Inc.

815 Second Avenue, 10th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Phone:(212) 984-1988

Fax: (212) 922-1676

www.adcouncil.org

TO ORDER ADDITIONAL CAMPAIGN MATERIALS, PLEASE CONTACT:

CI-Group

10 Salem Park
PO Box 461
Whitehouse, NJ 08888

Phone: (800) 933-PSAS (7727)

Fax: (860) 829-2343