For National Food Safety Education Month 2022, federal agencies and professional organizations are offering various educational webinars and informational resources.

The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) is celebrating National Food Safety Education Month 2022 by highlighting its tools and resources for food safety education. NEHA will also host an informational webinar regarding food safety policy in the U.S. NEHA’s federal partners, The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will also host webinars and are promoting resources in honor of the month.

NEHA

On September 13 at 2 P.M. Eastern Time (ET), NEHA will host a webinar to review recently passed laws and funded appropriations regarding food safety at both the state and federal levels. During the 2022 legislative session, policymakers made substantive regulatory changes to the manner in which food is prepared and sold in the U.S., and Congress oversaw and funded several food safety efforts that are ongoing at relevant federal agencies. The webinar will feature a panel of experts from NEHA’s government affairs and food safety teams, who will discuss current food safety policy trends.

NEHA has also outlined its policy statements in honor of National Food Safety Education Month, which set forth its organizational beliefs on food safety and have been shared with state, local, and federal policymakers, as well as relevant environmental and public health boards. The policy statements are related to the FDA Food Code, controversial commodities such as raw milk and cannabis, industry best practices, and other topics. The policy statements, as well as links to additional resources from NEHA’s federal partners, can be accessed on NEHA’s website.

CDC

On September 13 at 1 P.M. ET, CDC will host its own webinar that discusses how the restaurant industry can enhance food safety through a science-based, practical lens. The webinar will feature CDC officials and academics, who will share information on key CDC training and surveillance resources for outbreaks, as well as new research findings on restaurant food safety. CDC also redesigned its webpage on foodborne illness outbreaks and released a summary of its investigations of possible multistate outbreaks caused by Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes that occurred in 2017–2020.

FDA

FDA’s dedicated National Food Safety Education Month webpage features various informational resources, as well as graphics and messages that can be shared on social media. Additionally, FDA will conduct a free virtual seminar on retail food protection, taking place September 19–22, 2022. The seminar, which is to be co-hosted by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), provides an opportunity for federal, state, tribal, and territorial regulators to discuss current and emerging issues related to retail food safety. The seminar will have a focus on norovirus, and will conclude with a workshop on how to design and conduct a Risk Factor Study. The workshop will also cover the requirements for Standard 9 of the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards.

FDA and the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences will also hold a "Partnering for Food Safety" webinar on Thursday, September 22 at 12 P.M. ET to discuss key food safety tips and resources.

USDA

In recognition of National Food Safety Education Month, USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Food Safety team will be conducting upcoming webinar opportunities and resources for FNS program operators. On Tuesday, September 13 at 12:00 P.M. ET., FNS, alongside the U.S. Department of Education, will host a webinar on the role of school nutrition directors in school safety, security, emergency management, and preparedness activities, including emergency operations plan development. The FNS Food Safety team will also highlight current food safety resources available for adult daycare center program operators during another webinar on Thursday, September 15 at 3:00 P.M. ET. The webinar will highlight the results of The Study of Food Safety Needs of Adult Day Care Centers in the Child and Adult Day Care Food Program, and gather input for the future development of resources for this audience. Finally, the FNS Food Safety team and the Institute of Child Nutrition will hold a webinar on Thursday, September 22 at 3:00 P.M. ET for Produce Safety University (PSU) graduates and school nutrition professionals. The webinar will provide a continuing education opportunity for PSU graduates, and will highlight strategies and resources that can be used to train others on produce safety.

FNS has also released new food safety resources, which can be downloaded in both English and Spanish. The Food Safety Emergency Response Pocket Guide supports school nutrition professionals in their response to food safety emergencies caused by disasters and weather-related events. The resource provides key food safety practices and information for school nutrition professionals to consider in various emergency situations to ensure the safe service of school meals and reduce the risk of foodborne illness. The pocket guide is accompanied by a supplementary poster that highlights key supplies to include in emergency kits that may be used during emergencies and disasters impacting foodservice operations.

For more National Food Safety Education Month resources and news, stay up-to-date with Food Safety Magazine's coverage. Also, be sure to tune into the special webinars and podcasts offered by Food Safety Magazine in honor of the month!