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Food Focus November 2007

Foodsafe week to promote food safety

Foodsafe Week this year is 12–19 November. A great way to teach kids about food safety is for schools to have a Foodsafe Day during this week

Foodsafe Freddie will be all over the TV during Foodsafe week so keep an eye out for him. This is the week when the New Zealand Foodsafe Partnership promotes safe food practices throughout New Zealand, with a particular focus on our youth to ensure they learn these vital skills at an early age. The winner of the ‘Food Safe for Life’ competition will also be announced during Foodsafe week.

About the Foodsafe Partnership

The New Zealand Foodsafe Partnership is made up of Public Health Units, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority, consumer organisations and food sector organisations. It was set up to provide clear consistent advice on how people can keep themselves and others safe from foodborne illness.

The Partnership has two mascots Foodsafe Freddie and his cousin Foodsafe Feleti, which are used to promote safe food handling practices through television and radio advertising, promotional materials and in person at events.

The main function of the Partnership is to administer the annual Foodsafe Campaign, which runs throughout the year but with increased emphasis during the summer months. A lot of effort is concentrated on the first week of the campaign which is National Foodsafe Week.

Classroom activities

Summer is a high-risk time for foodborne illness, so good food-handling practices are essential. Prepare early for summer by introducing food safety activities into the classroom. Here are some suggestions.

Have a group discussion about foodborne illnesses. What are they? Do any children know someone who’s had a foodborne illness? What was it like?

Have a Foodsafe Day during Foodsafe Week. Foodsafe Freddie will be all over the TV, and a Foodsafe Day provides a good opportunity for your students to learn food safety and show off their food handling knowledge with fun educational activities.

Have a health professional speak about foodborne illness. Or have a lunch box inspection and discuss food handling tips for lunches. Make a Foodsafe snack with the class, following the 4Cs (Clean, Cook, Cover, Chill). Host a Foodsafe lunch and invite parents and caregivers.

Free prizes, including balloons, stickers, and magnets, are available for schools from the Foodsafe Partnership. Printed copies of the posters and pamphlets for the classroom and for sending home are also available.

Post a food safety message

From November you will be able to buy specially designed stamps showing the 4Cs message. Booklets of 10 stamps will be available from corner dairies, petrol stations and supermarkets (retailers can order direct from New Zealand Mail Ltd). The stamps will be released in time for Foodsafe week and will help get the food safety message out over the critical summer period. Buy a booklet next time you shop for groceries.

For more information or to order resources, visit the website www.foodsafe.org.nz, email info@nzfsa.govt.nz, or phone 0800 693 721.