Food Safety Learning Program for Grades 4 to 7

April 23, 2001

April 23, 2001, Ottawa – Food safety is serious business, but it can be taught in a fun and interesting manner. Today, the Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education launched the Grades 4 to 7 Learning Program to educate children about the importance of safe food handling.

The Grades 4 to 7 Program builds on the success of the Kindergarten to Grade 3 Program which was launched last year. This Program aims to teach children, ages 9 to 12, to FightBAC!® against foodborne illness, by focusing on the four key messages: CLEAN - Wash hands and surfaces often; COOK - Cook to proper temperatures; CHILL - Refrigerate promptly; and SEPARATE - Don’t cross-contaminate.

The Program consists of a Teacher’s Guide, Poster and Video which can be used by teachers, group leaders, dietitians, home economists, public health inspectors, nurses, parents and others, to inspire school-aged children to discover the science behind food safety.

The Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education, founded in 1997, is a coalition of industry, consumer, government, health and environmental organizations. The Grades 4 to 7 Learning Program builds on the current messages included in the FightBAC!® Campaign, which the Partnership launched in November 1998. The Program is supported by the ongoing FightBAC!® Campaign which includes a travelling exhibit, BACteria mascot, consumer educational tools and Web site.

To obtain a complementary copy of the Grades 4 to 7 Learning Program, call the Partnership at

(613) 798-3042 or visit the Web site at www.canfightbac.org

For more information, plase contact:

Cheryl Jitta, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (English)
Partnership Project Manager
(613) 225-2342 x4126

Robert de Valk, Further Poultry Processors of Canada (English)
Partnership Private Sector Co-Chair
(613) 738-1175

Marie-Claude Thibault, Canadian Produce Marketing Association (French)
Partnership Founding Member
(613) 226-4187 x 225