Studies find ways to improve food safety education programs
Two studies show how to improve food safety awareness among low-income consumers, who suffer higher risks of contracting foodborne illnesses compared to other groups.
Foodborne illness afflicts about 48 million people annually in the United States, resulting in 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. Increased knowledge of food safety could reduce these numbers.
“Food safety is an important part of food security,” said Yaohua Feng, an assistant professor of food science and Extension at Purdue University. “Low-income consumers have unique challenges to safe food handling, including limited food safety knowledge, a lack of kitchen tools such as thermometers and extra cutting boards for performing food safety practices, and poor microbial quality of foods in low-socioeconomic status areas.”