Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
Many Childcare providers and consumers in general do not follow food safety recommendations for keeping things clean, for keeping foods cold, for cooking foods to the right temperature and for preventing cross contamination between foods.

Response:
A one and 1/2 hour program and homework assignment for an additional 1/2 hour of training credit was provided. The program titled "Don't Give Kids a Tummy-Ache" covered the four areas of keeping food safe: 1. Clean 2. Chill 3. Cook and 4. Separate

Impact:
Twenty six child care providers and parents attended and completed end of the meeting evaluations, however eight providers completed the homework assignment, which included reporting what new food safety practices they had put in place.

*There were 20 responses related to new cooking practices such as purchasing a thermometer and checking the temperature of all meats, not serving hot dogs or pink luncheon meats cold to preschoolers who are a high risk population for foodborne illness.

*There were 10 responses related to preventing cross contamination such as using color coded cutting boards and making sure foods defrosting in the refrigerator can't contaminate other foods.

*There were 17 responses for new practices to keep foods cold and out of the temperature danger zone, such as using a cooler to transport foods home from the store, not overpacking the refrigerator, not defrosting foods at room temperature, dividing foods into smaller amounts to cool down, and purchasing and using a thermometer to check the temperature of their refrigerator.

*There were 20 responses related to keeping things clean such as discontinuing the use of sponges for cleaning, washing vegetables with a brush under running water, sanitizing surfaces properly with a child care approved sanitizer and timing the length of contact of a sanitizer on a surface. The providers reporting provide meals for 87 people on a regular basis and implemented an average of 9.5 new practices each. If all the attendants made the same number of changes there would be 2,470 new food safety practices in use.

Additional ISUE Extension Staff:
Mary Ottmar, Audubon County Extension Education Director

Contact:
Patricia Anderson
West Pottawattamie County Extension
3501 Harry Langdon Blvd - Careers Bldg
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
712-366-7070
pander@iastate.edu