24-5 |
Food safety education for diverse audiences in New Mexico |
W. M. FEDIO, New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service, New Mexico State Univ., PO Box 30003, MSC 3AE, Las Cruces, NM 88003 To be effective, food safety education in New Mexico must address diversity in language, culture, level of literacy, and audience needs. The NMSU CES has developed teaching materials for English, Spanish and Navajo speaking people. A variety of approaches have been developed to reach specific at-risk groups. Educational materials have been developed for the food processing and food service industry. Materials for small-volume, independent food processors in New Mexico include English/Spanish videos on processing salsa, making beef jerky and HACCP. By providing regional examples, these materials enhance educational programs and increase their relevance to the New Mexico Food Industry. Regular workshops in New Mexico food processing centers provide hands-on training opportunities for small food processors, further stressing the importance of food safety. An English/Spanish flip chart that uses a cartoon story to teach food safety to food service workers is also being used. Consumer food safety education takes place on a number of fronts. The Home Child Care Providers’ Food Safety Program was created for Spanish-speaking home day care providers. The Walk in Beauty video series, which was filmed on the Navajo Nation, addresses situations specific to the Navajo people. Fight BAC!™ videos for adults and youth are being developed in English, Spanish and Navajo. Paraprofessional educators with the Extension Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) teach with the Long Live la Familia video series. These bilingual soap opera videos encourage participants to reflect on, discuss and change their nutrition and food safety behaviors. This presentation will feature a variety of materials and approaches used in New Mexico to reach diverse audiences.
Session 24, Communicating food safety: To the public, students and food handlers
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