FightBAC!® for kids !

April 13, 2000

April 13, 2000, Ottawa – A fun and exciting program has been launched to teach children about safe food handling in the kitchen. This kid-friendly interactive program, targeted at children from Kindergarten to Grade 3 (ages 5 to 9), is sponsored by the Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education. The materials supplement the messages of the FightBAC!® Campaign which the Partnership launched in November 1998.

The Partnership created this Program to help reduce the incidence of foodborne illness by educating Canadians, and more specifically, children, about safe food handling practices. The materials focus on key steps to safe handling of food including proper cleaning and refrigeration techniques, and feature the unpopular germy character BAC!^TM. This voluntary supplement can be used by teachers, group leaders, day care workers, nutritionists, public health inspectors, nurses, etc. The Learning Program contains a presenter’s guide, a food safety game, materials to construct a BAC!^TM puppet, food safety badges, skits and songs, all designed to peak the interest of children aged five to nine years old. The program also includes take-home material which will help educate parents as well.

"This program is an excellent addition to the FightBAC!® Campaign," said Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lyle Vanclief. "It will motivate young Canadians to fight harmful bacteria by practising safe food handling steps when preparing food in their homes."

This project is supported by the on-going FightBAC!® Campaign which also includes a travelling exhibit, mascot and web site. To obtain a copy of the Learning Program, visit the FightBAC!® web site at or call the Partnership directly at (613) 798-3042.

The Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education includes government, industry, health, environmental and consumer organizations.

For more information, please contact:

Leanne Byers, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Partnership Project Manager
(613) 225-2342, ext 4126

Nicole Beauchamp (French)
Partnership Member
Chicken Farmers of Canada
(613) 241-2800

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